A short meeting between Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Mikhail Galuzin and Jakarta Governor Basuki âAhokâ Tjahaja Purnama at the latterâs office on Thursday morning was enough for the Russian diplomat to leave impressed in Ahokâs braveness and perseverance
short meeting between Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Mikhail Galuzin and Jakarta Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama at the latter's office on Thursday morning was enough for the Russian diplomat to leave impressed in Ahok's braveness and perseverance.
'I was deeply impressed by the resolve and strong intentions of Pak Ahok to modernize Jakarta,' Galuzin said during a gathering with journalists at his residence in South Jakarta a few hours after the meeting. 'He really is a brave governor who wants to make the lives of Jakartans much better. It's very impressive, really.'
The 53-year-old Russian career diplomat said that during the meeting, he spoke with Ahok about strengthening cooperation under the Jakarta-Moscow sister-city framework.
'Sister-ship relations between Moscow and Jakarta is an important part of our relations with Indonesia. We have a large number of promising areas where these two cities' governments and business communities can cooperate,' Galuzin said.
The Jakarta-Moscow sister-city cooperation was established in 2008.
The two cities are engaged in cooperation involving, among others programs, a modernization of transportation systems, protection of the environment, management of city garbage, as well as cultural and educational exchanges.
We can also cooperate to organize and construct sports facilities. As you know, Jakarta is preparing to host the 2018 Asian Games, the same year when Moscow will be hosting the football World Cup,' Galuzin said.
In fact, he added, the Bung Karno sports stadium in Central Jakarta had been modeled after Moscow's Luzhniki sports stadium. 'The city stadium of Moscow is now undergoing renovations for the World Cup.'
Jakarta has about 30 sister cities, including Bangkok, Beijing, Berlin, Istanbul, Los Angeles, Seoul, Sydney and Tokyo. (nfo)(+++)
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