Sochi, (Antara) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin witnessed the signing of five memoranda of understanding (MoUs) on bilateral cooperation between Indonesia and Russia, here, Wednesday evening.
The MoUs include cooperation in defense, illegal fishing eradication, cultural exchange, and archival cooperation.
From the Indonesian side, the MoUs were signed by Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, and Head of the National Archive Agency Mustari Irawan.
Prior to the signing of the MoUs, Jokowi and Putin held a bilateral meeting to discuss economic issues and efforts to strengthen political and defense cooperation.
At a joint press conference, Jokowi stated that the two countries had also agreed to boost Russian investment in Indonesia, particularly in the fields of maritime, infrastructure, oil and gas, energy, and electricity.
The Indonesian head of state also emphasized the importance of including the transfer of technology and weapon purchase as part of the defense cooperation.
The two leaders also discussed cooperation in military exercise, education, and joint production.
Indonesia has urged Russia to ease tariff and non-tariff barriers for Indonesian palm oil exports to the country.
President Putin informed the press that Russia was keen on expanding cooperation in the energy field with Indonesia.
"There is good potential for expanding energy cooperation. Our companies --- Zarubezhneft and Rosneft --- have specific, serious large-scale projects, including the construction of a modern oil refinery on Java Island, with a possible investment of US$13 billion," Putin revealed.
"Plans also include the construction of a 1.8-gigawatt thermal power station, with contribution from our company InterRAO and an investment of $2.8 billion. Rosatom is working on a project to build an experimental low-power reactor," he added.
Putin also noted that Russia was ready to provide all necessary assistance to its Indonesian partners for implementing infrastructure projects.
"Significant in this context is a joint project that was launched last year: a 190-kilometer-long railway line in Kalimantan, to be built by our company Russian Railways in conjunction with its partners. The project will create over 2.5 thousand jobs," Putin noted.
The railway line will connect the resource-rich part of the island to a new port and industrial and technological cluster where manufacturing and processing enterprises will be located, also with a share of Russian capital, he explained.
Cooperation plans also include the development of coal fields, the production of ferronickel, manganese dioxide, alumina, and more.
"Our companies are ready to provide Indonesia with high-speed hydrofoil vessels, catamarans, and floating piers and to supply modern equipment for the satellite monitoring of vessels. We have agreed to continue our collaboration in civil aviation," the Russian president remarked.
Jokowi is in Sochi to attend the ASEAN-Russia Summit on May 19-20.(*)
