Received Jokowi's Visit, PM Fumio Kishida Says Indonesia-Japan Agree To Strengthen Maritime And Energy Cooperation

President Joko Widodo and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Japanese PM's office in Tokyo today (ANTARA/HO-Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - The governments of Indonesia and Japan have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of maritime, investment, environment, and energy.

"First of all, in order to strengthen peace and security in the marine area surrounding Indonesia, I have conveyed to President Joko Widodo that Japan will further support the enhancement of maritime capabilities, including research that is being carried out for cooperation in granting patrol boats," said Perdana. Japanese Minister (PM) Fumio Kishida in a statement received in Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, July 27.

PM Kishida said this when receiving a visit from Indonesian President Joko Widodo at the Japanese PM's Office in Tokyo.

"We also welcome the signed memorandum of cooperation in the maritime security sector," he added.

In August 2022, he continued, the Japanese ground self-defense forces will participate in the Garuda Shield multilateral joint exercise held in Indonesia.

"We expect the two countries' security cooperation, including exchanges in the defense sector, to develop further," Kishida said.

In addition, Indonesia and Japan also agreed to cooperate in the infrastructure sector. "I have conveyed to President Joko Widodo that Japan is processing a yen loan of approximately 43.6 billion yen for projects in the field of disaster mitigation and the completion of the Peusangan hydropower plant," he said.

Kishida also said that he and Jokowi were pushing for closer cooperation to create an Asian zero emission community as well as cooperation in the fields of decarbonization and energy.

"We also welcome that Japanese companies are starting to invest heavily in Indonesia in the fields of energy, the automotive industry, food safety, as well as the formation and development of start-ups. We confirm that we will cooperate further," he said.

Japan sees Indonesia as a strategic partner who shares basic values and strategic interests.

"After my visit to Jakarta in April this year, we were able to meet again in Tokyo to exchange views openly. This is a testament to the close relationship between the two countries," he explained.

Kishida and Jokowi also discussed the latest developments in the free and open Indo-Pacific situation, concrete cooperation in realizing the ASEAN outlook on the Indo-Pacific, bilateral relations, and cooperation towards the G20 Summit.

Accompanying President Jokowi on the visit were Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of SOEs Erick Thohir, Minister of Investment/Head of BKPM Bahlil Lahadalia, and Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Heri Akhmadi.