Indonesians remember Russia's support after independence: Prabowo

St. Petersburg, Rusia (ANTARA) - The Indonesian people have not forgotten Russia’s support during the early years of the country’s independence, a time when the nation was still poor and working to build its foundations.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto shared this sentiment during a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Konstantinovsky Palace in St. Petersburg on Thursday.

“When Indonesia had just gained independence and was still very poor, the Soviet Union — with Russia at its core — had already extended significant help to us. Until today, the Indonesian people have not forgotten Russia’s support,” Prabowo stated.

He recalled that the Soviet Union at that time extended crucial assistance to Indonesia in the form of infrastructure development, including bridges, railway tracks, factories, and major buildings, in Jakarta and other cities.

“Russia helped us without demanding that we repay our debts quickly. However, eventually, even if it took several decades, we paid back what we owed at that time,” Prabowo stated.

Prabowo also noted that his meeting with Putin marked an important step forward in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, which have maintained diplomatic ties for 75 years.

“Today, we met, and our relationship has reached a new level. My meeting with President Putin today was very intense, warm, and productive across all sectors,” Prabowo remarked.

His official visit to Russia included top government officials, such as Foreign Minister Sugiono and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

The visit began with a one-on-one meeting between Prabowo and Putin that lasted over an hour, followed by a formal luncheon and a bilateral meeting between both delegations.

The two presidents later witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding between the two countries, delivered a joint press statement, and concluded the visit with an exchange of gifts.