KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesia and Japan held a bilateral meeting at the Bogor Presidential Palace on Saturday. In addition to being strategic partners, Indonesia and Japan share a close historical relationship.

President Prabowo Subianto expressed his deep impressions during the meeting between the two countries. He said that Japan was not just a partner, but also an old friend of Indonesia.

"Once again, I welcome you to Indonesia. It is a great honor for us, as we view Japan as a partner and long-time friend," said President Prabowo during the Indonesia-Japan bilateral meeting on Saturday, as quoted by rri.co.id.

He revealed that the meeting between the two leaders signified a commitment to maintaining harmonious relations, as well as served as a manifestation of partnership by opening up opportunities for cooperation across various sectors.

The President also expressed his gratitude for Japan's role in Indonesia's growth over the years. The journey of Indonesia's relationship with Japan has contributed to the development of Indonesia across various sectors.

"We are very grateful to Japan for actively supporting our economic development. It has greatly helped us in the sector of education, human resource development, and we hope this can continue," he said.

Meanwhile, during the same occasion, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba also reflected on the relationship between the two countries. He mentioned that he had previously met President Prabowo at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Lima, Peru, on November 13-15, 2024.

Furthermore, in his remarks, the Japanese Prime Minister noted that this was his second visit to Indonesia. His first visit occurred while he was serving as a member of the Japanese parliament.

PM Ishiba also mentioned that his visits to Indonesia always left a deep impression. He said that the welcome from Indonesia was very warm, especially during his current visit as Prime Minister.

"I once again thank you for the extraordinary warm welcome. I have been a member of the Parlement for a long time and have served as a Minister in Japan, but this exceptional reception is a first for me," said Shigeru Ishiba.

Welcoming the warmth of relations between the two countries, Shigeru Ishiba further said that Japan was ready to provide cooperative assistance. As countries with several similarities, he said that Indonesia and Japan should be able to synergize.

"I want to contribute and work with Indonesia. We are both archipelagic, maritime, and trading nations, so we need to pay attention to balance in our diplomatic policies," he said. ***