Global Courant
JAKARTA – Indonesian President Joko Widodo met with Emperor Naruhito of Japan at Bogor’s presidential palace in West Java on Monday and expressed hope that the two countries would deepen their ties.
Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, arrived in Indonesia on Saturday for a week-long visit.
This is the Emperor’s first official visit since his accession to the throne in 2019. Mr Widodo invited the couple in July 2022.
The Indonesian president said he was honored by the visit, which he saw as a sign of strengthening the friendship between the two countries.
“Such a foundation is necessary to develop a strategic partnership between the two countries in the future, especially in the economic field,” he said in a live-streamed press statement on Monday.
“The friendship between both countries and the people of Japan and Indonesia must be cherished amid the current challenges in the world.”
Naruhito said he was delighted to visit Indonesia and thanked Mr. Widodo for the warm welcome.
He added that the visit allowed him to deepen his understanding of Indonesia’s diverse culture and society, as well as the history of Indonesia and its people, which helped foster friendly bilateral relations.
“I sincerely hope that exchanges between young people from both countries will lead to further development of friendly relations between our two countries,” he said.
This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Japan, as well as the 50th anniversary of friendly relations between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), chaired this year by Indonesia.
During the meeting, Mr. Widodo, who was accompanied by First Lady Iriana, and Naruhito planted eagle trees with Empress Masako and visited the Orchid House in Bogor Botanical Garden, before having lunch.
On Sunday, the Japanese royals visited the MRT station in Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta, where they were greeted by a number of Japanese.
The Jakarta MRT, which was commissioned in 2019, was financed with a Japanese loan and designed and built with the support of Japan.
The two countries developed a close relationship after Japan committed to investing in Indonesia after World War II.
