RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - At the celebration of Russia’s National Day in Jakarta on Monday, June 29, 2026, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation as a cornerstone of Indonesia’s foreign policy. He emphasized that expanding strategic partnerships remains a government priority, with Russia standing as one of Indonesia’s most enduring allies.

Minister Airlangga noted that the relationship between the two countries has spanned more than seven decades, built on mutual respect and shared interests. He explained that Indonesia and Russia continue to deepen cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including politics, trade and investment, energy, defense, education, science and technology, and culture.

“Strengthening bilateral cooperation is one of the government’s priorities in expanding mutually beneficial strategic partnerships with various countries, including Russia, which has been a strategic partner of Indonesia for 76 years of diplomatic relations,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

Economic ties between the two nations have shown steady progress, with bilateral trade reaching USD 5 billion in 2025. Tourism has also grown, supported by the launch of direct flights between Moscow and Denpasar, Bali.

“For more than seven decades, our partnership has continued to grow based on mutual respect and common interests. The strong foundation built by our predecessors has been preserved across generations of leadership and remains the basis for our cooperation today,” Minister Airlangga added.

He also recalled his recent visit to Kazan in May as part of efforts to strengthen institutional cooperation. “Both countries believe that strong institutional cooperation, supported by active engagement between government and business, will continue to serve as the foundation for Indonesia–Russia economic partnership,” he remarked.

The event was attended by Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, Chairman of the Indonesian Regional Representative Council (DPD) Sultan B. Najamudin, and several foreign ambassadors, including representatives from Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Turkey.

This reaffirmation of ties reflects Indonesia’s broader commitment to expanding strategic partnerships while ensuring that long-standing diplomatic relationships continue to deliver tangible benefits across generations. ***