DENPASAR, DEWATA.NEWS – Bali Governor Wayan Koster received a delegation from the Saint Petersburg Parliament on Monday (8/6) at the Jayasabha official residence, marking a new step in efforts to strengthen cooperation between Bali and Russia.
The delegation was led by Saint Petersburg Parliament Speaker Alexandr Belski and included representatives from the Saint Petersburg Governor’s Office, the Russian Embassy in Indonesia, and the Russian Consulate General in Bali.
During the meeting, Governor Koster expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as a reflection of the strong friendship between Indonesia and Russia, particularly between Bali and Saint Petersburg.
“Thank you for the cooperation that has been established between Saint Petersburg and Bali. This reflects the good relationship between Indonesia and Russia,” Koster said.
According to the governor, cooperation between the two regions has already covered sectors including education, tourism, and sports.
Koster also revealed that he had planned to visit Russia this June, although the trip was postponed due to scheduling circumstances.
“I have a strong desire to visit Russia. Hopefully the visit can be rescheduled in the future,” he added.
The governor welcomed the increasing number of Russian visitors arriving in Bali and noted that many Russian tourists have become more familiar with local regulations and cultural customs.
“Some come for tourism, while others come to invest. We remain open to investment as long as it complies with regulations and respects Bali’s local values,” he said.
Koster also encouraged stronger two-way tourism promotion, with Bali seeking to increase travel opportunities for Balinese residents to visit Russia, particularly Saint Petersburg.
The Saint Petersburg delegation emphasized that relations between Russia and Indonesia are built on a longstanding foundation of friendship.
“I am very pleased to be in Bali. We hope various cooperation projects can be realized, including transportation development that supports the tourism sector,” said Alexandr Belski.
Representatives from the Saint Petersburg Governor’s Office also invited Bali officials to visit the Russian city later this year and expressed hopes for the formal signing of a friendship agreement between the two regions in September or October 2026.
They also highlighted plans for a cultural cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) and future exchanges between the two governments.
Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergei Gennadievich Tolchenov said he hoped Governor Koster’s visit to Saint Petersburg would proceed as planned.
“I believe the relationship between Bali and Saint Petersburg can become an example of successful regional cooperation for other regions,” he said.
The meeting concluded in a friendly atmosphere and ended with a traditional Bali arak toast, which was welcomed by members of the Russian delegation.
The visit was facilitated by Professor Connie Rahakundini Bakrie in her capacity as Ambassador of Science and Education for Saint Petersburg State University.
Also attending the meeting were Russian Consul General in Bali Ivan Ivanovich Zavorin and several officials from the Bali Provincial Government.