TOKYO: Indonesia’s President-elect, Prabowo Subianto, is scheduled to embark on a diplomatic visit to Japan from April 2 to 3, following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on April 1.
This marks Mr. Prabowo’s inaugural foreign tour since securing victory in the presidential race, succeeding incumbent leader Joko Widodo.
During his visit to Tokyo, Mr. Prabowo will hold discussions with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and other high-ranking officials. The trip aims to reinforce the comprehensive strategic partnership between Japan and Indonesia, built on shared principles and values. Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshimasa Hayashi, expressed optimism that Mr. Prabowo’s visit would enhance bilateral cooperation across various domains.
As a former special forces commander and the current defence minister of Indonesia, Mr. Prabowo plans to engage with Japan’s Defence Minister, Minoru Kihara, to explore avenues for collaboration in defence and security matters. In 2021, Mr. Prabowo and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi signed agreements with their Japanese counterparts to facilitate defence equipment transfers, underscoring Japan’s efforts to bolster military and economic ties with Southeast Asian nations as a countermeasure against China’s influence.
Furthermore, Japan and Indonesia have recently concluded agreements aimed at reducing trade barriers, signaling their commitment to enhancing economic cooperation. These developments reflect the deepening partnership between the two countries across multiple fronts.
