RI, Russia to Develop Sister City

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesia and Russia agreed to develop cooperation between the two countries' cities and provinces when a delegation from the Indonesian Regional Representatives Council (DPD) visited Moscow on May 23-25, a spokeswoman said.

DPD chairman Irman Gusman, along with council members Aidil Fitri Syah and Bahar Ngitung of South Sulawesi, R Ella M Giri Komala of West Java and GKR. Ayu Koes Indriyah of Central Java visited Moscow for three days at the invitation of Russian Federal Council Chairman V I Matvienko, Lailal K. Yuniarti, first secretary of the Indonesian embassy in Russia for information, education and socio-cultural affairs said in an e-mailed statement on Monday.

While in Moscow, the DPD delegation accompanied by Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Djauhari Oratmangun met with Matvienko, Russian Foreign Minister SV Lavrov, and Deputy Speaker of  the Lower House N Levichev.

At the meeting, both sides agreed on the need to develop sister city and sister province relations in all fields, Lailal said.

Only Indonesia's Palembang and Russia's Belgorod have so far established sister city relations. The two countries are initiating   sister province cooperation between Yogyakarta (Indonesia) and St. Petersburg (Russia). (*/DWA)