Jakarta (ANTARA) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated that Japan will further support the improvement of Indonesia’s maritime capabilities to strengthen peace and security in the maritime area surrounding Indonesia.
"To strengthen peace and security in the maritime area surrounding Indonesia, I have conveyed to President Joko Widodo that Japan will further support the improvement of (Indonesia’s) maritime capabilities,” Kishida remarked while welcoming the Indonesian president at his office in Tokyo, Japan, as quoted from a statement received here on Wednesday.
During a state visit conducted by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to the East Asian country, Indonesia and Japan agreed to boost various forms of cooperation in the maritime, investment, environment, and energy sectors .
The prime minister said his side's support was also apparent from the implementation of a review on the cooperation for the granting of patrol boats being conducted currently.
"We also welcome the memorandum of cooperation on the maritime security sector that has been signed," he affirmed.
In addition, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force will participate in the Garuda Shield multilateral joint military exercise held in Indonesia in August 2022, he stated.
"Hence, we expect that the two countries' security cooperation, including (knowledge) exchanges in the defense sector, can be increased," he remarked.
Furthermore, Indonesia and Japan agreed to collaborate in the infrastructure sector.
"I have conveyed to President Joko Widodo that we are processing (to provide) a loan worth approximately ¥43.6 billion (US$318.3 million) for the (development of) disaster mitigation facilities and the completion of the Peusangan Hydropower Plant," Kishida revealed.
Kishida and Jokowi are also encouraging more intensive cooperation on decarbonization efforts and the energy sector to create a zero-emission Asian community.
"We (the Japanese government) also laud many Japanese companies that are starting to invest a lot in Indonesia for the development of energy, automotive industry, food, as well as start-up sectors," the prime minister stated.
Kishida said the courtesy call he had paid to the president in Jakarta in April 2022 and the visit conducted by Jokowi to Japan on Wednesday (July 27, 2022) reflected the close relations between the two countries.
Kishida and Jokowi also discussed the latest developments in the Indo-Pacific region, concrete collaboration in realizing the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific, as well as cooperation ahead of the 2022 G20 Summit.
During the visit, the president was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, State Secretary Minister Pratikno, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir, Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia, as well as Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Heri Akhmadi.
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