RRI.CO.ID, Paris - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has instructed schools across Indonesia to include French language studies in their curriculum. Indonesian students are expected to learn French.

“I have now instructed that all levels of schools in Indonesia must teach French,” President Prabowo said during a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Thursday, May 28, 2026.

Under Macron’s leadership, relations between Indonesia and France have grown closer. President Prabowo said Indonesia and France have maintained strong cooperation in defense, science, and technology. However, he emphasized the need to further strengthen collaboration in education.

“In defense, our relations are very good, and cooperation in science and technology is also very good. In education, we want to improve it even further,” he said.

President Prabowo also stated that Indonesia wants to play a positive role globally alongside France amid growing global uncertainty caused by war. The country aims to actively contribute to world peace efforts.

“We can play a positive role. Indonesia will always encourage every effort to maintain peace in the world. Now that the world has become smaller because of science and technology, war and conflict cannot bring benefits to anyone,” he continued.

President Prabowo arrived at Les Invalides in Paris, France, at 3:30 p.m. local time on Thursday, May 28, 2026.

Accompanying the president were Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono, Higher Education, Science, and Technology Minister Brian Yuliarto, Investment and Downstreaming Minister Rosan Roeslani, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, President Prabowo’s son Didit Hediprasetyo, and Indonesian Ambassador to France Mohamad Oemar. (Diffa Sephiawardhani)