Asia

Prime Minister Abe expressed his delight at holding a meeting with President Yudhoyono for the third time this year, which marked the 55th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Japan and Indonesia, and being able to enhance their bilateral relationship. Furthermore, Prime Minister Abe thanked President Yudhoyono for showing support in his lecture delivered that morning towards the contributions Japan would make based on the principle of “proactive contribution to peace.” President Yudhoyono stated that he hoped to lift the existing good bilateral relationship to further higher level.

Amid the ever-increasing severity of the security environment in the region, Prime Minister Abe expressed Japan’s hope to further step up security cooperation between the two countries. Prime Minister Abe stated that with President Yudhoyono’s support, Japan would expand its role under the banner of “proactive contribution to peace.” The leaders agreed to further strengthen communications between their foreign and defense authorities, including through the holding of talks that bring together their foreign and defense affairs’ ministers. The leaders also exchanged views on the regional and international situation, including the issue of the South China Sea. In this context, Prime Minister Abe explained Japan’s position on China’s establishment of an Air Defense Identification Zone.

　(1)Prime Minister Abe expressed his expectation that Japan and Indonesia will strengthen their cooperation in the fields of trade, investment and infrastructure development so that both countries achieve economic growth together. The leaders welcomed the consent reached between ministers on the 11th to promote cooperation on the Metropolitan Priority Area for Investment and Industry (MPA) in the JABODETABEK Area, and shared a view on the steady implementation of infrastructure development. Prime Minister Abe stated that Japan would continue to extend maximum support for Indonesia’s economic growth, including seven ODA loan projects totaling approximately 62 billion yen, the provision of which would be decided and exchange of notes for them would be held in the near future. Prime Minister Abe expressed Japan’s intent to continue its cooperation in the areas of energy and finance. Prime Minister Abe also expressed his intention to continue Japan’s cooperation on high efficiency coal power plant projects, and welcomed signing of contract for bilateral swap agreement which increased its ceiling to be doubled and introduced crisis prevention function and President Yudhoyono welcomed the cooperation. The leaders concurred that two countries will strengthen their cooperation in those fields.
　(2)Regarding disaster management, Prime Minister Abe said Japan would support the disaster management measures of Indonesia by providing financing and technologies. The leaders concurred that Japan and Indonesia, both being countries that have experienced many natural disasters, would further deepen their cooperation in the area of disaster management.