Close people-to-people relations between Russians and Indonesians, as well as other ASEAN citizens, were highlighted in speeches and events at a diplomatic reception in the Raffles Hotel in Jakarta on Friday when Moscow’s top envoys in the region emphasized the importance of the Eurasian giant for achieving a peaceful, stable region and a common prosperity.

Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Lyudmila Vorobieva recited a pantun (rhymed poem) based on a poem by one of Indonesia’s famous writers, Sutan Takdir Alisyabana, telling of the enduring relations between the two nations despite global challenges.

A similar show of close cultural relations was shown by Russian Permanent Representative to ASEAN Alexander Ivanov.

Ivanov sang the opening line of an Indonesian national song, Tanah Airku Indonesia, and the local crowd spontaneously joined in, much to Ivanov’s delight.

“The song is not only famous in Indonesia but also in Russia,” said Ivanov, who was Moscow’s envoy to Jakarta before his assignment to ASEAN.

Ivanov also sang a Russian song, Podmoskovnye Vechera (Nights in Moscow).

Vorobieva said that the two countries would celebrate their 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2020.

“I invite all of our Indonesian friends to participate in the events dedicated to the jubilee,” she said in a prepared speech during the Russia Day reception.

The national day commemorates the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia from the then Soviet Union, which was issued on June 12, 1990. The day started Russian constitutional reforms within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), leading to the USSR’s demise.

She said that the embassy would hold a contest around “What I know about Russia”. The winner would get a ticket to Moscow.

“Our leaders have established an excellent political dialogue and personal contacts. Bilateral trade is on the rise,” she continued.

“Defense cooperation, interaction in the sphere of security show positive dynamics.”

Vorobieva added that interparliamentary and interreligious contacts have brought people from both countries closer.

She also congratulated President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on his reelection, following Russian President Vladimir Putin, who congratulated Jokowi on May 21.

Meanwhile, Ivanov thanked Indonesia for its role as the coordinating country for ASEAN-Russia Dialogue Relations, which led to the special partnership status formalized at the ASEAN Summit in November 2018.

Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution, the reception’s guest of honor, underlined the importance of strengthening future bilateral cooperation ahead of the 70th anniversary on Feb. 3, 2020.

He said that both countries had stated their commitment to advancing their strategic development and projects such as in infrastructure, energy and transportation and called for efforts to expedite and implement all agreed projects, such as a railway on Kalimantan Island and an energy project in East Java.

Darmin added that people-to-people contacts had been strengthened by Rossiya Airlines flying direct between Moscow and Bali.

The flight “has boosted the number of Russian tourists to 24.4 percent by February 2019, compared to the same period two years ago”, he said, adding that Russia sent the fifth largest number of tourists to Indonesia, out of all European countries.

“We fervently hope that this direct flight will also help strengthen trade and investment, as well as people-to-people relations between our two countries,” he said.

Other dignitaries at the reception were Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti and Russian Orthodox Church Archbishop for Southeast Asia and Singapore Sergius Chasin.

Guests attending the reception was entertained by an Indonesian choir, Timutiwa, which is to sing at the Indonesian Festival held by the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow in August, the Russian Orthodox Church Choir and Russian violinist German Dmitriev.

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