Asia
Foreign Minister Kishida’s Visit to Indonesia
August 12, 2014
Courtesy call on President-elect Joko
Japan-Indonesia foreign ministers’ meeting
From August 11 (Monday) to 12 (Tuesday), Minister for Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida visited the Republic of Indonesia, where he made a courtesy call on Ir. H. Joko Widodo, President-elect of the Republic of Indonesia, who was elected in the presidential election that took place in July this year, and held a foreign ministers’ meeting with Dr. Marty Natalegawa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. The overview of the visit is as follows.
1. Courtesy call on President-elect Joko (morning of August 12)
- (1)Foreign Minister Kishida held a meeting with President-elect Joko for the first time after the election victory as the Japan’s high-level. Foreign Minister Kishida handed a letter from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to President-elect Joko, conveying a message from Prime Minister Abe of congratulation on his victory in the election and intention that he would like to cooperate closely with President-elect Joko in order to further deepen relations between Japan and Indonesia.
- (2)Furthermore, Foreign Minister Kishida commented that Japan and Indonesia are “strategic partners” that share fundamental values and common interests and he would like to further deepen the partnership between the two countries. President-elect Joko conveyed his approval, and agreed to further strengthen the “strategic partnership” between Japan and Indonesia under his administration. In particular, Foreign Minister Kishida proposed deepening collaboration and cooperation between the two maritime nations of Japan and Indonesia in the field of maritime matters, based on the ideas of President-elect Joko, who is aiming to develop Indonesia as a maritime nation, and President-elect Joko expressed his approval.
- (3)Foreign Minister Kishida and President-elect Joko affirmed that they will strengthen cooperation in the field of economics based on a mutually beneficial relationship, and President-elect Joko showed a strong feeling of hope with regard to investment from Japan. On the topic of cooperation aimed at achieving peace and prosperity in the region, Foreign Minister Kishida provided an explanation regarding Japan’s serving as a “Proactive Contributor to Peace.”
- (4)Based on this meeting, the two sides shared an understanding regarding the basic directionality of cooperation between Japan and Indonesia in the future.
2. Japan-Indonesia foreign ministers’ meeting (afternoon of August 12)
- (1)Foreign Minister Kishida and Foreign Minister Marty exchanged views on a wide variety of topics regarding bilateral relations and the regional and international situation. Foreign Minister Kishida handed Prime Minister Abe’s letter for H.E. Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, to Foreign Minister Marty, stating the congratulation since Indonesia was successful in implementing its recent series of elections as a result of President Yudoyono’s efforts for promoting democratization. The foreign ministers shared the view to further strengthen the “strategic partnership” between Japan and Indonesia and agreed to jointly address issues in the region and the international community.
- (2)In the field of politics and security, Foreign Minister Kishida conveyed that Japan highly praises the fact that Indonesia is playing a proactive role in achieving stability and prosperity in the region, and he provided an explanation concerning Japan’s initiatives related to serving as a “Proactive Contributor to Peace” and a Cabinet decision related to a basic policy for the development of security legislation, as a part of this. Foreign Minister Marty once again expressed his support for Japan’s serving as a “Proactive Contributor to Peace.” In the field of economics, Foreign Minister Kishida stated that Japan would like to further develop mutually beneficial economic relations based on initiatives such as cooperation related to the development of infrastructure in the capital city of the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, and the two foreign ministers agreed regarding the further development of mutually beneficial relations and consented to resolve issues related to New Mining Law and so forth, based on taking into consideration mutually beneficial relations in a comprehensive manner.
- (3)On the topic of the regional situation, the two foreign ministers exchanged opinions concerning matters such as the situation in the South China Sea based on the outcomes of an ASEAN-related foreign ministers’ meeting that was held in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. Foreign Minister Kishida expressed his support for ASEAN to handle the matter in a coordinated manner. The two foreign ministers then exchanged views regarding the international situation, including the strengthening of EAS, the situation in the Middle East, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and United Nations reforms and affirmed that they will continue to deepen cooperation in the future.