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President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, friends. It is with great pleasure that we welcome the President of the Republic of Indonesia to Russia.

President Prabowo Subianto’s official visit coincides with his participation in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. We are grateful to the President for accepting our invitation and for his forthcoming address at tomorrow’s Forum plenary session, which this year is dedicated to the theme “Shared Values as the Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World.”

Mr President visited Russia on multiple occasions, including during his tenure as the Minister of Defence of his country. Last July, we met with him in Moscow, after his election as the head of state.

I would like to emphasise that Indonesia is one of our key partners in the Asia-Pacific region. Our relations continue to develop steadily on a mutually beneficial basis, grounded in longstanding traditions of friendship and mutual assistance.

This year marks the 75^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our nations. At that time, our country played an active role in the establishment of Indonesian statehood and the strengthening of the young Republic’s international standing. Mr President recalled this during our restricted-format discussions today. Many facilities built during that period continue to operate successfully to this day, benefiting the Indonesian people.

Today, Russia is committed to the progressive development of cooperation and relations with Indonesia across all sectors. Russia played a significant role in facilitating Indonesia’s accession to BRICS as a full member. We welcome Indonesia’s assumption of membership rights effective January 1.

Given Indonesia’s weight and influence in contemporary global politics and economy, this step was undoubtedly the correct one and will bring substantial added value to both BRICS and all its cooperation mechanisms.

Today’s talks were substantive. We discussed a broad spectrum of current issues of bilateral cooperation, as well as key topics on the international agenda.

The declaration on strategic partnership, which we approved with Mr President following the talks, sets out ambitious and responsible objectives for deepening Russian-Indonesian relations across multiple domains, with particular emphasis on trade and economic cooperation. Several intergovernmental agreements and interagency arrangements were also concluded.

I would like to emphasise that Indonesia is one of our leading South Asian foreign trade partners.

Last year, bilateral trade was up by 2.5 percent at $4.3 billion, and in the first four months of this year it grew by another 40 percent.

This includes growing reciprocal supplies of Russian wheat and Indonesian agricultural raw materials. In April, a memorandum was signed by the relevant agencies from both countries, which opened the Indonesian market to high-quality livestock products from Russia that comply with the Islamic Halal standard.

In April, Jakarta hosted a meeting of the Russian-Indonesian Joint Commission on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation. New horizons for mutual trade will undoubtedly open following the creation of a free trade area between Indonesia and the Eurasian Economic Union. I hope the agreement will be signed soon.

Russian energy companies are operating effectively in Indonesia. We stand ready to expand direct supplies of hydrocarbons, petroleum, and liquefied natural gas.

A project is underway to build a major refinery and a petrochemical complex in East Java province. We are ready to join new projects on the Indonesian continental shelf, as well as to participate in the modernisation and efficiency improvement of existing oil fields.

We are also open to cooperation with our Indonesian partners in harnessing peaceful nuclear energy. This could include joint projects using nuclear technologies for non-energy purposes in medicine and agriculture, as well as training personnel for Indonesia’s national nuclear industry. We have an interest and are willing to collaborate in many high-tech sectors, such as outer space exploration, digitalisation, smart city technologies, and artificial intelligence.

We are actively cooperating in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. For 60 years now, the Russia House in Jakarta has been regularly hosting musical concerts, art shows, and other performing arts events.

Russian language learning centres are operational in Jakarta and on the resort island of Bali.

We are working on projects in the professional training as well with over 500 Indonesian students studying in our country.

In recent years, much has been done to create the most favourable conditions for mutual travel. Direct flights from Moscow to Bali have resumed, and the Russian Consul General officially took office on the island in January.

Today, we certainly also discussed pressing issues on the international agenda. We noted that our countries’ positions on most of them either coincide or are very close. Our nations uphold the principles of the rule of international law and sovereignty, and we jointly advocate peaceful and sustainable development of the Asia-Pacific region. We also coordinate joint efforts at the United Nations and other international platforms.

In conclusion, I would like to once again highly commend today’s productive work with Mr President. Undoubtedly, this visit will further strengthen the entire framework of Russian-Indonesian strategic partnership for the benefit of our peoples.

Thank you for your attention.

President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto: Mr President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, Leaders of ministries and agencies of both countries,

Greetings to all who are present.

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank you for the invitation extended to our delegation, as well as for the warm hospitality shown to me personally and to the entire Indonesian delegation currently visiting your country.

I am truly delighted to be in the city of St Petersburg – a city that has witnessed a great number of historic events and is filled with heroic achievements of the Russian and Soviet people.

This is my first official state visit to the Russian Federation in my capacity as the incumbent President of the Republic of Indonesia. Taking this opportunity, I would also like to express my sincere gratitude for the visit I was granted last year, even before I officially assumed the presidency of Indonesia. Despite that, I was received in the Russian Federation with great warmth by Mr President.

The history of Russia-Indonesia relations and friendship spans a very long period. This year, we mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations. For the Republic of Indonesia, the Russian Federation has always been a strategically important partner and a friendly nation.

We will never forget how the young Republic of Indonesia, having just proclaimed its independence – a rather impoverished country back then – received immense support from the Soviet Union. To this day, we in Indonesia remember this, cherish the assistance and solidarity extended to us, and carefully preserve numerous landmarks that still stand in many Indonesian cities. These include a great number of historic buildings, industrial and transportation facilities, and other structures that continue to remind us of the glorious history of our bilateral relations.

Although when Indonesia proclaimed independence, it was quite a poor state, Russia provided significant assistance back then, without demanding the debt to be repaid shortly. However, we were able to fulfill our obligations when circumstances allowed.

I am very pleased with our meeting today and with the continued growth and strengthening of our bilateral cooperation.

Our meeting with Mr President today was intensive, productive, and held in a warm and friendly atmosphere. We are witnessing steady and meaningful progress across nearly all sectors of our relationship, including economic ties, technical cooperation, trade, investment, agriculture, and other areas.

I would like to offer one example: at our previous meeting in July 2024, Mr President expressed Russia’s interest in launching direct flights between our two countries. This initiative has been successfully implemented. Direct flights from Russia to the Indonesian island of Bali are now operating three times per week – and during the peak winter season, four times per week. I would like to affirm that Indonesia remains open to expanding direct air connections, not only to Bali, but also to other Indonesian cities and destinations.

We have reached many new bilateral agreements. Above all, I would like to note our desire to increase the number of Indonesian students who study in the Russian Federation under scholarship programmes.

I would also like to express our sincere gratitude to President Putin and the Russian side for their comprehensive support in facilitating the Republic of Indonesia’s accession to BRICS as a full member.

Furthermore, we welcome the continued progress in negotiations toward a free trade agreement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Eurasian Economic Union.

As President Putin has already mentioned, Indonesia and Russia share similar positions on many key international issues. We uphold the principle of national sovereignty, advocate for peaceful resolution of conflicts, and firmly believe that cooperation – rather than confrontation – is the key to address any issues.

I hope that my visit will serve as an important step to further promote bilateral cooperation between Russia and Indonesia. I am delighted to have a chance to speak at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum with the President tomorrow.

Thank you for your attention.