Japan-Indonesia Relations

April 3, 2024
Japanese
Prime Minister KISHIDA shaking hands with H.E. Prabowo, President-elect of Indonesia Prime Minister Kishida receiving a courtesy call (Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
Meeting between Prime Minister KISHIDA and H.E. Prabowo, President-elect of Indonesia Prime Minister Kishida receiving a courtesy call (Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)

On April 3, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, received a courtesy call from His Excellency Prabowo Subianto, President-elect and Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia, for about 35 minutes from 9:15 a.m. The overview of the courtesy call is as follows:

  1. Introduction
    1. Prime Minister Kishida extended his congratulations again to President-elect Prabowo on his victory in the presidential election, and stated that President-elect Prabowo’s early visit to Japan was strongly encouraging since he understood that this visit showed President-elect’s intention to attach great importance to Japan. Prime Minister Kishida also stated that Japan and Indonesia have been longstanding friends and that Japan would further advance cooperation with Indonesia in bilateral relations as well as in regional and global affairs as a Comprehensive and Strategic Partner sharing fundamental values and principles.
    2. In response, President-elect Prabowo stated that it was honor to meet Prime Minister Kishida in person and that as Indonesia and Japan have been longstanding friends and important partners, Indonesia would further strengthen the friendly relations with Japan to date in various fields.
  2. Bilateral Relations
    1. Prime Minister Kishida stated that Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress’s visit to Indonesia last year, which was their first foreign goodwill visit since His Majesty’s accession to the throne, stood for heartfelt relations of trust between the two countries and that he would further promote exchanges and cooperation with Indonesia. In addition, Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan would contribute to Indonesia’s development through cooperation in such fields as infrastructure development and energy and support Indonesia’s efforts to proceed with the process of its accession to the OECD. Furthermore, Prime Minister Kishida stated that as Japan attached great importance to cooperation with Indonesia in maintaining and strengthening the free and open international order based on the rule of law and that Japan would advance security cooperation with Indonesia besides the provision of a large patrol vessel for Indonesia decided in December 2023.
    2. In response, President-elect Prabowo expressed his gratitude for Japan’s assistance to date and his hope to further enhance bilateral cooperation in a broad range of areas including security, agriculture and fisheries as well as disaster prevention.
  3. Regional and International Situation
    1. Prime Minister Kishida expressed his intention to continue to cooperate closely with Indonesia, building on the outcomes of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in December 2023.
    2. Prime Minister Kishida and President-elect Prabowo also exchanged views on regional issues such as the situation in the East and South China Seas, dealing with North Korea on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, and the situation in Myanmar. Both sides confirmed to continue to cooperate in addressing these issues.
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