Indonesia and Japan Commit to Strengthening Forestry and Conservation Cooperation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that Indonesia and Japan are reinforcing their commitment to strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the fields of forestry and conservation. Forestry Minister Raja Antoni conveyed this reaffirmation of commitment during a bilateral meeting with Japan’s Minister for Growth Strategy, Minoru Kiuchi, in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday. “This meeting reaffirms the strong commitment of Indonesia and Japan to expand strategic cooperation in the forestry sector, biodiversity conservation, and tangible contributions to global efforts in addressing climate change,” said the Forestry Minister in his statement received in Jakarta. He conveyed that Minister Kiuchi views Indonesia as a strategic partner for the Japanese Government, particularly in the forestry sector. Furthermore, both countries also appreciated the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Indonesia and Shizuoka Prefecture regarding the protection and conservation of wildlife, especially Komodo dragons. Komodo dragons are considered to have a high level of popularity in Japan, comparable to pandas, and are believed to be a major attraction for the Japanese public. “The Japanese Government even plans to hold a special welcome ceremony when Komodo dragons arrive in Japan. In addition, Minister Kiuchi expressed his commitment to supporting the acceleration of wildlife exchanges from Japan’s iZoo to Surabaya Zoo,” said the Forestry Minister.