PM: Belarus views Indonesia as a gateway to Southeast Asian region

Belarus views Indonesia as a gateway to the vast Southeast Asian region, Belarusian Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin said as he met with Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of Indonesia Airlangga Hartarto on 15 May, BelTA has learned. “I am pleased to note that ties between our countries have significantly strengthened recently. Despite the distances, Belarus and Indonesia are close mentally and spiritually. We are united by a shared aspiration for peace, friendship, and partnership based on mutual respect,” Aleksandr Turchin said. “Belarus sees in Indonesia a true friend and reliable partner - a gateway to the vast Southeast Asian region.” The prime minister emphasized that the visit of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to Belarus in July 2025 gave important impetus to the development of the entire spectrum of Belarusian-Indonesian contacts. “We confirm Belarus’ readiness to implement all the agreements reached,” Aleksandr Turchin added. New horizons for trade and economic cooperation will open after the free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Indonesia comes into force. Belarus is actively working on ratifying the agreement. The draft law has already been approved by parliament. “I assure you that Belarusian businesses are looking forward to this moment. We invite Indonesian industry bodies and business communities to engage more with Belarusian partners, to build up the legal framework for cooperation, to participate in exhibitions and seminars, and to organize joint business events. This approach will help us better understand each other’s needs, seek out and identify areas of mutual interest, establish direct contacts, and build long-term interaction and partnership. It will also lay a solid foundation for further multifaceted work under the free trade area conditions,” said Aleksandr Turchin. According to him, the meeting of the Belarusian-Indonesian joint commission on trade, economic and technical cooperation will make a significant contribution to the development of bilateral cooperation. “I am ready to discuss with you in detail all the issues of our bilateral cooperation,” the prime minister said.