Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia After Bilateral Meeting with Prime Minister of Japan at Akasaka Palace, Tokyo, Japan

Your Excellency Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae,
Distinguished ministers and high officials of Japan and Indonesia,
Distinguished media.
Konnichiwa,
Good afternoon,
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

First of all, I would like to convey my highest appreciation and gratitude to Prime Minister Takaichi and the Government of Japan for the extremely warm and honorable welcome, as well as the invitation extended to me to visit Japan during this beautiful cherry blossom season.

I am also deeply grateful that yesterday I was received by His Majesty Emperor Naruhito. And once again, I reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the relationship between Japan and Indonesia, which has long been running smoothly and very well.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

My visit to Japan is carried out amid a world full of challenges, uncertainties, and even dangers. We agree that both Japan and Indonesia will work hard to convince all parties to pursue de-escalation. We are ready to serve as mediators if needed and to facilitate de-escalation efforts toward peace.

We are deeply concerned about this situation. Amid these uncertainties, the good relations and cooperation between Indonesia and Japan serve as an example of collaboration that ensures stability and peace in our region.

We discussed many issues earlier in the fields of economy, bilateral cooperation, energy, maritime and fisheries, and security. All of these show a positive and good trajectory.

The Indonesian Government will work hard to accelerate the ratification and implementation of the amendment protocol to the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA). I hope we can finalize this quickly. We also continue to invite and open ourselves to Japanese participation in Indonesia’s economy, as well as partnerships in critical minerals and rare earths. We invite Japan to participate in Indonesia’s industrialization through downstreaming.

We are also open to cooperation in renewable energy and nuclear energy. We will also promote the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), where Japanese companies are involved in Indonesia, and we will accelerate and assist in debottlenecking existing projects, such as Legok Nangka and Sarulla.

We also welcome the Japanese corporation INPEX, which is investing in the Abadi gas project in the Masela Block. After quite a long delay, we hope this can soon be realized.

We also invite Japan to join in cooperation and collaboration in all fields, including those I mentioned earlier: education, tourism, and people-to-people programs.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Indonesia and Japan are committed to continuing to maintain and enhance these good relations. Indonesia greatly appreciates and thanks Japan for all the assistance provided in our economic development. We are also very grateful that many of our youth have been given opportunities to study in Japan in all fields, and many of our workers are allowed to intern in Japan.

Once again, I feel greatly honored by the Government and people of Japan, and I would like to invite Your Excellency Prime Minister of Japan, Your Excellency Takaichi Sanae, for an official visit to Indonesia. We will welcome you warmly as well. Also, on this occasion, as fellow politicians, I congratulate Your Excellency on the landslide victory in the recent election in Japan.

Thank you. Thank you. Arigatou gozaimasu.

(EST/LW)