President Prabowo Visits Belarus, Invites Belarussian President to Indonesia as Leders Deepen Bilateral Relations

President Prabowo Subianto makes a brief stopover in the Republic of Belarus and holds a meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko on Tuesday (7/15). (Photo by: BelTa)

President Prabowo Subianto Tuesday (7/15) made a brief stopover in the Republic of Belarus to hold a meeting with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko.

The meeting took place at President Lukashenko’s residence in Ozyorny, located just outside the capital of Minsk.

The relaxed and friendly meeting lasted three hours, demonstrating the closeness and respect between the two leaders.

President Prabowo Subianto is the second president, after Russian President Vladimir Putin, to visit President Lukashenko’s residence since its restoration.

“Mr. President, after the restoration of this house (formerly a military residence), before your coming, it was only President Putin visiting this house. Long time ago, even before the restoration, (Chinese President) Xi Jinping visited this place with his family,” said President Lukashenko while welcoming President Prabowo.

President Prabowo Subianto and his Belarusian counterpart discussed a number of strategic issues, including opportunities for cooperation in various fields between the two countries.

“I am pleased to welcome you to this house and am ready to discuss all issues that may be on the agenda of our relationship,” said President Lukashenko.

President Prabowo Subianto also expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome. He also invited President Lukashenko to visit Indonesia in the near future.

“Once again, thank you Your Excellency. It is a great honor for me to be welcomed here. I also hope that Your Excellency will visit Indonesia soon,” said the Indonesian President.

In response, President Lukashenko expressed his readiness to revisit Indonesia, after his previous visit in 2013.

“I look forward to visiting Indonesia again,” said President Lukashenko with a warm smile.

Upon arriving in Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto said that his brief visit to Belarus also resulted in important points to meet the strategic needs of the two countries, one of which is the increased potential cooperation in the commodity trade sector and fertilizer needs fulfillment.

“Belarus needs many commodities from us, while we need them for fertilizer, potash, and so on,” President Prabowo said in a statement to the media at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta.

Joining the President during the meeting was Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (JAS/EP)