Beijing, October 17, 2023 – President Joko Widodo (@jokowi) held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin tonight, just moments before attending the Welcoming Dinner for Leaders at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing.
During the meeting, President Jokowi expressed his pleasure in meeting President Putin once again, highlighting the importance of the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Russia. He stated, “It is an honor to meet President Putin again and discuss ways to strengthen our strategic partnership. Our countries have enormous potential for cooperation in various sectors, from trade and investment to defense and security.”
Both leaders discussed several key issues, including enhancing economic ties and exploring new opportunities for collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative. President Jokowi emphasized the potential for increased cooperation in the fields of infrastructure development, energy, and technology.
In a direct quote, President Jokowi stated, “We believe that by leveraging the Belt and Road Initiative, we can further accelerate our economic growth and bring mutual benefits to our nations. Indonesia welcomes Russian investment and looks forward to fostering closer ties between our business communities.”
President Putin reciprocated President Jokowi’s enthusiasm for strengthening bilateral ties. He acknowledged Indonesia’s significant role in the region and expressed his commitment to expanding cooperation between the two countries. (*)