Russia supports Indonesia joining the FTA.

(Baonghean.vn) - Russia has accepted Indonesia's offer to participate in negotiations to open a free trade area (FTA) within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC).(Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated this during a meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.

Foreign Minister Lavrov affirmed that Russia will facilitate Indonesia's efforts to expand its foreign relations with the EAEC, by connecting EAEC members with APEC activities and other major events in the Asia-Pacific region.

A meeting between Russian and Indonesian diplomats. Photo: Ria

Russia highly appreciates Indonesia's positive contributions to the functioning of regional mechanisms such as ASEAN. Russia is aiming to strengthen contacts and exchanges with Indonesia – a long-standing partner of Russia in Southeast Asia – and affirms that it is implementing bilateral projects and signing agreements in all fields, particularly those that will allow for the enhancement of comprehensive Russia-Indonesia cooperation in the defense sector.

The two diplomats noted that Jakarta and Moscow currently have "very close ties in the military field."

Recently, the two sides reached an agreement on strengthening cooperation in intelligence sharing and enhancing exchanges between the security agencies of the two countries to combat terrorism; they also agreed to strengthen military technical cooperation, technology transfer, and cooperation in manufacturing defense products.

"We, like Indonesia, are consistent in our view that any conflict should be resolved on the solid basis of international law, respecting the principles of the UN Charter, and through political diplomacy, without the need for outside interference," the Russian Foreign Minister affirmed.

In the near future, Indonesia plans to purchase eight of Russia's latest Su-35 multirole fighter jets. Previously, General Gatot Nurmantio, Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces, announced that the military agencies of Russia and Indonesia are preparing a package of documents that will allow military cooperation between the two countries to reach a new level.

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(According to Ria Novosti)