"Indonesia is a key partner for Belarus in this huge region," President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus said Indonesia is his country`s key partner in the Asian region, especially Southeast Asia.
He made the statement here on Tuesday afternoon during a press conference with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after the two leaders witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the two countries` cooperation.
"Indonesia is a key partner for Belarus in this huge region," he said.
In view of that he said he supports continuous efforts to increase cooperation between the two countries and jointly explore common interests.
He said the two countries could also serve as a bridge to link Asia especially Southeast Asia with Eastern Europe especially Custom Union members (Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan).
He said the trade between the two countries had kept increasing now reaching US$400 million.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono meanwhile said that although Indonesia has become Belarus`s number one partner in Asia trade between the two countries was still small and so he believed the two countries` trade relations could still be further developed.
He said although the European region is still facing an economic crisis, potentials to increase trade between the two countries were still big, in view of the country`s stable conditions and economy that grows above six percent as well as strong domestic buying power with population reaching 240 millions.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Belarus is superior in agricultural and mining heavy equipment as well as technology and science.
"I have a big hope our cooperation with Belarus could be increased," he said. (*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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