Indonesia-Japan keeps Stronger Commitment for Sustainable Relations

RRI.CO.ID, Hiroshima – Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Nurmala Kartini Sjahrir, expressed appreciation for the role of the Hiroshima-Indonesia Association (HIA) in strengthening relations between Indonesia and Japan over the past 30 years. The appreciation was conveyed by Ambassador Kartini during the Hiroshima Indonesian Association General Meeting in Hiroshima on Friday, May 22, 2026.

The event was attended by Hiroshima-Indonesia Association Chairman, Kensuke Matsufuji, Indonesian Consul General in Osaka, John Tjahjanto Boestami, and around 200 invited guests, and was enlivened by an angklung performance from the Indonesian Students Association (PPI) Hiroshima.

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Hiroshima-Indonesia Association for inviting us to this wonderful event,” Kartini said in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

According to her, Hiroshima and Indonesia are both internationally recognized for their strong commitment to peace and cultural preservation. Kartini said Hiroshima rose from difficult circumstances after the war in 1945, while Indonesia has a long history of promoting peace through the 1955 Asian-African Conference in Bandung.

“The values of peace, hospitality, and cultural preservation are the common thread that connects us and gives deeper meaning to the friendship between the two countries,” she said.

She added that for three decades HIA has served as a bridge of friendship while creating opportunities for mutual understanding and cultural exchange between the people of Indonesia and Japan. Kartini also expressed hope that Indonesia-Japan relations would continue to strengthen across generations.

“Together, we can build stronger relations, not only between Hiroshima and Indonesia, but also across generations,” she said.

Meanwhile, HIA Chairman, Kensuke Matsufuji, expressed appreciation for the presence of the Indonesian delegation at the event as a form of the Indonesian government’s continued support for HIA. He also appreciated President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Japan in March 2026 and emphasized the importance of strengthening Indonesia-Japan relations within the framework of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

HIA has long been recognized for actively promoting socio-cultural cooperation between Indonesia and Japan, particularly in Hiroshima Prefecture, through various cultural, economic, and technological exchange programs. HIA members consist of the general public as well as executives of Japanese companies based in Hiroshima, and they actively collaborate with Indonesian students, communities, and business actors.