REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) congratulated Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin, via telephone call on Monday. The call was conducted after Putin gained convincing victory in the Russian presidential election.

“The President of the Republic of Indonesia had just finished a telephone call with Vladimir Putin to congratulate him for being re-elected as the President of Russia,” the Special Staff of the President for International Relations, Dr Teuku Faizasyah, said.

President also sent his regards on behalf of Indonesia and its people while he noted that the high number of votes reflected the high level of trust in Putin. “For that, both countries are ready to develop and strengthen cooperation in the future,” Faizasyah stated.

SBY also confirmed his attendance on the upcoming APEC summit in Vladivostok, Russia next September. He hoped that Putin could come to APEC meeting in Indonesia in 2013.

In the discussion, Putin underlined the important meaning of Indonesia for his country in terms of trade, technical military cooperation, and other issues. “Mr Putin also emphasized the commitment to utilize the meeting in Vladivostok to strengthen bilateral relation,” Faizasyah added.

Indonesian Ambassador to the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, Djauhari Oratmangun, said the potency of cooperation between Russia and Indonesia had not fully carried out. The trade volume is now only two billion USD, far smaller than the area of both countries. He expects the trade volume can increase up to five billion USD in the next three years. The main targets in Indonesia-Russia bilateral relationship for the next three years are cooperation in politics, trade, investment, tourism, and education. 

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