Contacted by phone here on Thursday, Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Alexander A Ivanov said his country was ready to initiate or support several healthcare cooperation projects with Indonesia.
"Until now, we have continued to be a supplier of medical equipment and medicines to cure or prevent infectious diseases," he said on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the Persahabatan General Hospital in East Jakarta which was built with assistance from the former Soviet Union.
Ivanov said Russia and Indonesia had so far been cooperating in the economic field under a scheme which among other things resulted in the holding of a high level meeting in October 2011 between Sergei B Ivanov, deputy chairman of the government of the Russian Federation, and Hatta Radjasa, Indonesia`s coordinating minister for economic affairs.
"Currently, Russia and Indonesia are implementing cooperation projects in various sectors, including in healthcare. For example, we helped Indonesia in alleviating the suffering of disaster victims in the Nias Islands several years ago," he said.
He said at the time Russia`s Emergency Control Ministry sent an aero mobile hospital to Gunungsitoli, the Nias Islands district capital.
Responding to the Russian ambassador`s statements, Indonesian Deputy Health Minister Ali Ghufron Mukti on behalf of the Indonesian people and government expressed thanks to the Russian government for all humanitarian assistance it had extended to Indonesia.
"We are also thankful for the existing good partnership and friendship between Indonesia and Russia as embodied in the building and name of the Persahabatan (Friendship) Hospital and hope these good relation between our two countries will last indefinitely," Ali said.
Ivanov and Ali Ghufron on Wednesday attended a function to mark the 48th anniversary of the Persahabatan General Hospital as one of the tangible results of the long-standing cooperation between the two countries.
The hospital was built with financial assistance from Russia in 1963 when the country was still known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).
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Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
