Prabowo's Praise for PM Sanae for Welcoming Him During Cherry Blossom Season
President Prabowo Subianto made an official visit to meet Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo, Japan. During the occasion, Prabowo praised PM Sanae for inviting him to visit during cherry blossom season.
Prabowo held a bilateral meeting at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday (31/3) local time. In the meeting, Prabowo expressed his pleasure at the warm welcome from PM Sanae.
“First of all, I convey my highest appreciation and thanks to Prime Minister Takaichi and the Japanese government for such a warm and honourable reception, as well as the invitation given to me to visit Japan during this beautiful cherry blossom season,” Prabowo said during the bilateral meeting session at Akasaka Palace, Tokyo, on Tuesday (31/3).
Prabowo also extended thanks to Emperor Naruhito of Japan, who had received him. He reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening cooperative relations with Japan.
“I am also very grateful that yesterday I was received by His Majesty Emperor Naruhito, and once again I reaffirm our commitment to strengthening relations between Japan and Indonesia, which have long been running very well,” he said.
Prabowo highlighted the heating global geopolitical situation during his visit. He encouraged that good cooperation between Indonesia and Japan serve as a good example in ensuring stability and peace in the region.
“We are very concerned about this situation, and amid this uncertainty, the good cooperative relations between Indonesia and Japan are an example of collaboration that leads to and ensures stability and peace in our region,” he said.
Prabowo Invites PM Sanae to Visit Indonesia
President Prabowo also responded positively to the warm welcome from PM Sanae. He invited Sanae to visit Indonesia.
This was conveyed during the joint press statement session between Prabowo and Sanae after the bilateral meeting at Akasaka Palace, Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday (31/3). Prabowo appreciated Japan’s warm welcome to him.
“Once again, I feel very honoured by the Japanese government and people,” he said.
Prabowo then invited Sanae to make an official visit to Indonesia. He emphasised that he would provide a similar warm welcome.
“And I would like to invite the honourable Prime Minister of Japan, Her Excellency Takaichi Sanae, to make an official visit to Indonesia, and we will also welcome her warmly,” he said.
In addition, Prabowo congratulated Sanae on her victory in the Japanese election. Sanae returned to the position of PM after winning decisively in the election some time ago.
“Also, on this occasion, as fellow politicians, I congratulate Your Excellency on the very significant victory in the recently held election in Japan,” he said.
Meeting Discusses Energy-Security Cooperation
Prabowo then explained in more detail regarding his meeting with PM Sanae. Prabowo revealed that the meeting discussed cooperation between the two countries in various fields.
“We discussed many issues in the economic field, bilateral cooperation in energy, in the maritime, marine, and fisheries sectors, in security, and all this shows a positive and good trajectory,” Prabowo said after the bilateral meeting session at Akasaka Palace, Tokyo.
Prabowo emphasised that the Indonesian government would accelerate the ratification of the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA). He hoped the agreement could be completed soon.
“We in Indonesia will work hard to accelerate the ratification and implementation of the amendment protocol to the Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement. I hope we can settle this soon,” he said.
Furthermore, Prabowo invited Japan to participate in building Indonesia’s economy through cooperation in several sectors. These include partnerships in critical minerals and rare earth metals.
“We also continue to invite and open ourselves to Japan’s participation in Indonesia’s economy, as well as partnership cooperation in critical minerals and rare earths, and we invite Japan to participate in Indonesia’s industrialisation through downstreaming,” he said.
In addition, Prabowo opened cooperation in the field of renewable energy and nuclear energy. He also promoted the Asia Zero Emission Community, where Indonesia and Japan are initiators.
“We are also open to cooperation in renewable energy and nuclear energy. We will also promote the Asia Zero Emission Community, where Japanese companies are involved in Indonesia, and we will accelerate and help debottleneck existing projects, for example Legoknangka,” he said.
Cooperation was also encouraged in other fields, such as education, tourism, and human development programmes.
“We also invite Japan to join in cooperation and collaboration in all fields, including those I mentioned earlier, education, tourism, and people-to-people programmes,” he concluded.