Tokyo, 22 November 2021 (TDI): The Prime Minister of Japan, Kishida Fumio held a telephonic dialogue with the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo. The two discussed increasing bilateral cooperation between Japan and Indonesia.
Free and Open Indo-Pacific
The Japanese Prime Minister underscored the need to enhance concrete cooperation toward the realization of the “ASEAN Outlook for the Indo-Pacific” and “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”. He stressed specifically about the Sulu-Celebes Seas and their surrounding areas.
Sulu-Celebes Seas
The Celebes Sea is located in the western Pacific Ocean. It has the Sulu Archipelago on the north and the Sulu Sea and Mindanao Island of the Philippines, on the east. On the west, it has northern Kalimantan, in Indonesia.
He enunciated that Japan will collaborate with Indonesia in the fields of human resource development, infrastructure development response to COVID-19, and maritime security.
The Indonesian President on his part stated that further bilateral coordination between the two countries will strengthen the partnership. The two also discussed issues pertaining to regional developments, particularly the situation in the South and East China Seas.
They also exchanged views on Myanmar and North Korea. Both will cooperate to ensure peace in the region. Indonesia will hold the G20 presidency in 2022, as well as the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2023.
Japan and Indonesia founded diplomatic relations in 1958.
The two Asian nations share historical, political, and economic ties. During the 60 years of diplomatic ties, the two partners have become a symbol of a robust diplomatic partnership in East Asia.
Both countries have been closely collaborating in trade, even during the pandemic. Indonesia is the key supply of liquefied natural gas to Japan. Japan is the largest export partner of Indonesia. It is also a major donor of aid related to development.
Both allies are members of the APEC as well as the G20.
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