Indonesia's Prabowo to visit China and US in first foreign trip, newspaper says

JAKARTA - Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto will visit China and the United States during a five-country trip just a few weeks after taking office, Kompas newspaper reported on Tuesday, signalling his intent to pursue an active role on the international stage.

Prabowo took office on Oct. 20 and as president-elect had visited 21 countries, including China, Japan, Russia, and Australia. He has said his presidency will continue Indonesia's long-held foreign policy of non-alignment.

The former defence minister and special forces commander will visit China, the United States, Peru, Brazil, and Britain, Kompas said, citing sources.

The foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment and a spokesperson for Prabowo's office was unable to immediately confirm the trip had been planned.

China will be Prabowo's first destination as president and he will meet counterpart Xi Jingping, Prime Minister Li Qiang and officials at National People's Congress, Kompas said.

He will then travel to Washington to meet U.S. President Joe Biden, Kompas said, without specifying the proposed dates of those visits.

The U.S. presidential election takes place on Nov. 5 and it is not clear if a winner will be known by the time Prabowo arrives. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Prabowo will then go to Peru to attend the Nov. 14-15 summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), before heading to Brazil for G20 Summit on Nov. 18-19, the report said.

His final stop will be in Britain, where he will meet King Charles and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, it said. REUTERS