Japan and Indonesia commemorate 65 years of diplomatic relations in 2023, an event made more significant by the 50th anniversary of Japan’s cooperative partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which Indonesia chairs this year.
While the friendship between the two countries has progressively grown more robust since 1958, bilateral ties have become stronger than ever in the past decade. Japan has expressed its full support in enabling Indonesia to harness its maximum potential, both as a key player in the region and on the global stage.
“Japan has been one of the major trading partners and investors, and the largest donor of official development assistance for Indonesia. In order to facilitate our economic activities, the Japan-Indonesia economic partnership agreement was enacted in 2008. At the same time, various cooperative projects are ongoing, especially in the areas of infrastructure development, energy transition and human resource development,” Japan’s Ambassador to Indonesia H.E. Kenji Kanasugi shared.
Kanasugi cited specific examples of the cooperation between both nations on the economic front and on development strategy. Among these are Jakarta’s Mass Rapid Transit North-South Line, the car terminal of Patimban Port in West Java, ASEAN’s first automotive proving ground and efforts to address climate change and energy transition.
Japan and Indonesia have likewise stepped up their collaboration in the political arena.
Kanasugi noted: “Japan and Indonesia are now comprehensive strategic partners, sharing fundamental values and working together to address regional and global issues. Our cooperation has been largely in the economic field in the past; but in recent years, it has expanded into the fields of maritime security and defense. Both countries, as maritime democracies, attach importance to the upholding and strengthening of a free and open international order based on the rule of law. It is, therefore, essential that our two countries promote even greater cooperation to pursue synergies between a free and open Indo-Pacific and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.”
Moreover, the spirit of synergy between Japan and Indonesia pivots on the cultural confluence between its peoples.
“Cultural exchanges have contributed to strengthening the relationship between our two countries. Japan will continue to focus on promoting cultural, people-people and heart-to-heart exchanges, especially for the interaction between younger generations,” Kanasugi concluded.
