Author Topic: Putin in Indonesia to strengthen economic, security ties  (Read 679 times)

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Putin in Indonesia to strengthen economic, security ties
« on: September 06, 2007, 03:25:51 PM »
by Nabiha Shahab
46 minutes ago
 

Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd L) walks after being welcomed by Indonesian officials upon his arrival at the Halim Perdanakusumah Airport in Jakarta. Putin arrived here with a large delegation of energy, banking and weapons magnates for a one-day visit to boost trade and economic ties with this world's fourth-largest nation.(AFP/Ahmad Zamroni)  

JAKARTA (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Indonesia Thursday to discuss lucrative deals on weapons and natural resources, with a slew of agreements set to be signed.

In his first trip to the world's most populous Muslim nation, Putin will see energy and mining deals inked, as well as a one-billion dollar credit line established for Jakarta to buy Russian military hardware, officials said.

The Russian president, who is accompanied by a large delegation of energy, banking and weapons industry representatives, was due to meet with his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at midday (0500 GMT).

Delegations from the two countries will hold parallel talks during the one-day trip.

"The president (Yudhoyono) will talk about bilateral matters, especially how to step up economic cooperation in trade and investment," Yudhoyono's spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said, adding that defence cooperation was also on the agenda.

Among the deals set to be sealed is a memorandum of understanding on a joint venture between Russia's Rusal aluminium giant and Indonesian nickel and gold miner Antam, for setting up an aluminium smelter in West Kalimantan province.

The signing of a one-billion-dollar credit arrangement for Jakarta to buy Russian military hardware is also expected following Indonesia signing a memorandum of understanding on buying six Sukhoi-30 fighter planes at a Moscow airshow last month.

Russian oil major Lukoil is also expected to sign a deal with Indonesia's state-owned energy firm Pertamina on exploration of onshore and offshore fields.

Putin is slated to address the Indonesia-Russia business forum and attend a banquet before flying to Sydney for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. He is then due to fly to the United Arab Emirates.

The Kremlin leader's tour is seen by analysts as part of a Kremlin strategy of expanding diplomatic influence in Asia and the Middle East on the back of Russia's thriving arms trade and growing importance as an energy power.

Indonesia meanwhile is seen as seeking to reduce its dependence on US weaponry.

Military relations between Jakarta and Washington have been improving after a long period in which they were suspended because of the Indonesian military's human rights record, but Jakarta has been pursuing a broader military strategy.

The Kremlin leader's visit to Indonesia reciprocates a trip to Russia by Yudhoyono in December last year.

Trade between the two nations is relatively modest, with Russian exports largely limited to defence and Indonesia mainly exporting agricultural commodities in return.

Indonesia non-oil and gas exports to Russia totalled 273 million dollars in 2006 and Russian imports were worth 416 million dollars.

Reportedly accompanying Putin was the chairman of Lukoil, Vagit Alekperov, billionaire investor Vladimir Yevtushenkov, the head of the Russian nuclear agency Rosatom, Sergei Kiriyenko, among other business leaders.


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