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Minister Airlangga receives Russian award, meets key leaders
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D
uring his working visit to Russia from June 10 to 12, in addition to being presented with an international cooperation award from the Russian government, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto held a series of special meetings on Tuesday with Dmitry Medvedev, a former president and former prime minister of Russia, as well as First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and Economic Development Minister Maxim Reshetnikov.
On June 11, the second day of his working visit, Airlangga was bestowed an award "For Contribution to International Cooperation", presented on behalf of the Russian government by Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin in Moscow.
"The award presented today is one proof that coordinating minister Airlangga has a strong commitment to enhancing cooperation with Russia, particularly in the economic field," said Galuzin.
On receiving the award, Airlangga said the recognition was not only for him, but also for all parties who had contributed to efforts to enhance economic cooperation between Indonesia and Russia.
"Next year, Indonesia and Russia will commemorate 75 years of diplomatic relations. We should use this occasion to make breakthroughs in the development of bilateral economic cooperation," he said.
Following the award ceremony, Airlangga and First Deputy Prime Minister Manturov held the Cochairs Meeting of the 13th Indonesia-Russia Joint Commission on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation.
During their meeting, Airlangga and Manturov comprehensively discussed various sectors of economic cooperation, including issues related to trade, investment, industry, tourism and renewable energy.
"We appreciate Indonesia's willingness to hold today's meeting, as the last Indonesia-Russia Joint Commission Meeting was held six years ago. Meanwhile, the issues of economic cooperation between the two countries have been very dynamic following the current global situation and conditions," remarked Manturov.
For his part, Airlangga outlined focus areas for bilateral cooperation regarding tourism, Indonesia's palm oil exports to Russia, the registration of Indonesian fishery products in Russia and accelerated talks on the Indonesia-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (Indonesia-EAEU FTA).
"Both parties need to sit together to discuss increasing the number of tourist visits through direct flights between the two countries. Indonesia also asks Russia to support the completion of the Indonesia-EAEU FTA negotiations, which are targeted for July 2024," the senior minister said.
In concluding their meeting, the two Indonesia-Russia Joint Commission cochairs agreed to plans for a Russian business delegation to visit Indonesia and to gold the 13th Indonesia-Russia Joint Commission on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation in December 2024 in Indonesia.
As part of Tuesday’s agenda, Airlangga met with Deputy Chairman Medvedev of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, who previously served as Russia’s president in 2008-2012 and prime minister in 2012-2020.
Wrapping up the series of meetings on the second day, Airlangga attended a bilateral meeting with Economic Development Minister Reshetnikov.
Reshetnikov expressed Russia’s concerns about several issues in the agriculture and livestock sectors, including Indonesia’s beef registration and halal food certification procedures, as well as Moscow’s desire to increase its wheat exports to Indonesia, reopening direct flights between the two countries and commencing bilateral cooperation in the metallurgy industry.
In response, Airlangga reiterated the need to expedite completion of Indonesia-EAEU FTA negotiations.
"Once again, we ask for Russia's support to complete the FTA negotiations with the EAEU. We believe this agreement will boost exports and be a strong driver for every business actor to increase business activities in both countries," he said.
"Russia is interested in cooperating in the halal industry sector, including mutual recognition of halal certificates in both countries. We also welcome the plan to hold the 13th Indonesia-Russia Joint Commission on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation in December 2024. The meeting is expected to agree on various strategic economic cooperation issues," Reshetnikov responded.
This article was published in collaboration with Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Republic of Indonesia
