Indonesia, Malaysia seek engagement with Russia as Putin eyes allies

JAKARTA/KUALA LUMPUR -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin agreed to deepen bilateral ties, expand cooperation and establish a joint investment platform when they met in St Petersburg on Thursday.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, came a month after Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim met Putin in Moscow. Analysts said the visits highlight how both Russia and the Southeast Asian nations are seeking to strengthen relations with as many nations as possible amid heightened global tension and shifting alliances.

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