Indonesia, Japan to Form Maritime Forum
Japan and Indonesia are rolling out a high-level bilateral “maritime forum” to expand cooperation in ensuring security at sea. Japan will increase its assistance in building Indonesia’s port infrastructure and coast guard capabilities.
The leaders of Japan and Indonesia would work together to maintain peace in the region at a time of tensions between China and its neighbors over maritime territorial disputes.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the two countries would collaborate on maritime security and increase trade. At a joint news conference after their meeting, Abe said he and Jokowi agreed to launch a forum to achieve an “open and stable” maritime environment through high-level talks between the two countries.
After the two announced the signing of a defense memorandum, Abe stated that: "As Asia’s top democratic maritime nations, we agreed to further strengthen our strategic partnership.”
“We affirmed to further strengthen our strategic partnership as Asia’s leading oceanic and democratic states. We’ve produced major results at this summit, such as the launch of the high-level maritime forum to achieve an open and stable ocean and the start of ‘Promosi,’ the new trade and investment promotion initiative” Abe added.
Joko “Jokowi” Widodo welcomed the signing of a defense cooperation pact that involve Japanese capacity building assistance for Indonesian forces, as well as bilateral cooperation in peacekeeping missions and defense equipment development.
Jokowi also hailed the maritime forum and Promosi ( which means “promotion”), saying, “Japan and Indonesia agreed to launch the forum in order to enhance competence of coast guard capabilities and infrastructure, as well as the marine industry.”
