Japanese Prime Minister visits two Southeast Asian countries, pledges to strengthen cooperation

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru announced on January 11 that his country will provide Indonesia with two high-speed patrol boats as Tokyo seeks to boost regional maritime security cooperation.

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru made the pledge during a visit to Jakarta, where he held talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on a range of bilateral issues, according to AFP.

Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru (left) and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto after their meeting at the presidential palace in Bogor, West Java (Indonesia) on January 11.

"We have agreed to establish defense consultations on our maritime security, including technical cooperation on defense equipment," Ishiba was quoted as saying in a joint statement.

“We have also agreed… to provide high-speed patrol vessels through Official Security Assistance, which will be the first time we have provided such vessels to Indonesia,” Ishiba stressed. He added that the two countries have also agreed to cooperate in non-carbon energy areas, such as geothermal energy and biofuels.

Before arriving in Jakarta, Prime Minister Ishiba held talks in Kuala Lumpur with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, describing strengthening ties with Southeast Asia as "one of Japan's biggest priorities." The trip to Malaysia and Indonesia marks Prime Minister Ishiba's first official state visit since he took office in October 2024.

Prime Minister Ishiba added that the trip had helped him appreciate the "explosive development of the two countries" and reaffirmed his view that Japan and its key ally the United States must continue to cooperate with Southeast Asian nations.

"Diplomatic engagement in this region is extremely important for Japan as well as for the United States. I would like to share the understanding with... (US President-elect Donald) Trump that Japan and the United States working together towards peace and stability in this region will contribute significantly to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region and the entire world," Ishiba said.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thu-tuong-nhat-ban-tham-hai-nuoc-dong-nam-a-cam-ket-cung-co-hop-tac-185250111165055339.htm