NEW DELHI, thekabarnews.com—Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto joined leaders of other BRICS member states in planting a banyan tree at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, India. The symbolic planting occurred on Saturday, September 12.

The ceremonial planting took place near the Nataraja statue during the first day of the 18th BRICS Summit.

India hosted the two-day meeting on September 12–13 under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

Before the ceremony, Prabowo and the other leaders posed for a group photograph. The Indonesian president stood beside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during the session.

Prabowo then used a shovel to place soil from a burlap sack around a banyan sapling. He completed the symbolic planting by watering the young tree.

The banyan is India’s national tree and holds a prominent place in the country’s culture. Its extensive roots and long lifespan are widely associated with endurance, continuity and collective strength.

Organizers used the planting to convey a message about environmental responsibility and the long-term development of cooperation among BRICS members.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the tree as an appropriate representation of the group’s shared aspirations.

“It is a fitting symbol of what BRICS stands for: deep roots, growing strength and coming together for a shared future,” Modi said after the event.

The ceremony formed part of a wider summit attended by leaders from major emerging economies.

Indonesia participated as a full BRICS member. This strengthened its role in discussions on development financing, trade, food security and energy cooperation.

According to Indonesia’s State Secretariat, Prabowo’s attendance reflected the country’s commitment to a more inclusive and balanced global economic order.

The summit also provided an opportunity for participating countries to discuss multilateral reform and closer cooperation among developing economies.

The agenda reflected India’s BRICS chairship theme, which placed sustainability alongside resilience, innovation and practical cooperation.

The tree planting was more symbolic than a binding policy. Ultimately, its value will depend on whether BRICS members convert the summit’s sustainability message into tangible environmental programs. Furthermore, it will depend on the creation of long-term partnerships.

The event also represented Prabowo’s push for Indonesia to become an active voice in BRICS. At the same time, Indonesia still engages with a wide range of international partners.

The banyan sapling embodied that long-term ambition. It represented cooperation based on common interests and was to be fostered by concrete action.