The bilateral meeting between the two foreign ministers took place a day before Prabowo Subianto arrives in St. Petersburg on Wednesday to begin his visit, which will last until June 20, according to a statement from the Indonesian Foreign Ministry.
The ministry's statement revealed that Minister Sugiono encouraged Russia to continue strengthening cooperation across various sectors for the sake of mutual interests.
Sugiono and Lavrov also expressed appreciation for the close contact between high-level officials from both countries, which has led to new cooperation initiatives—including in library and education sectors, the ministry said.
During the meeting, Sugiono and Lavrov also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, including stability in the Middle East, as well as cooperation within the BRICS and ASEAN frameworks.
Prabowo's visit, part of the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Indonesia-Russia diplomatic relations, comes in response to President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
In response to Prabowo’s visit, Head of the House of Representatives’ Commission XI, Mukhamad Misbakhun, said it is a key opportunity to strengthen the two countries' economic and diplomatic ties.
“This visit is not just symbolic. Rather, it is a concrete step to strengthen Indonesia’s position as Russia’s strategic partner in Southeast Asia,” he said.
According to Misbakhun, who heads the House commission overseeing finance, Prabowo’s visit is a timely strategic move as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year.
“This step also reflects Indonesia’s seriousness in strengthening its global partnerships and expanding the influence of its economic diplomacy,” he added, while highlighting potential areas of cooperation between the two nations.
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Translator: Yoanita HD, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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