Japan, Indonesia to work closely ahead of ASEAN

Indonesia's foreign minister Retno Marsudi met her Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi in Tokyo on Monday where they affirmed their close bilateral ties as Indonesia chairs ASEAN, and Japan chairs the G-7 this year.

Indonesia's foreign minister said this momentum would strengthen the strategic partnership between their two countries. Hayashi said he would like to discuss regional as well as global issues to strengthen bilateral ties during a "complicated international situation" in order to "make this year fruitful," particularly ahead of the Japan-ASEAN commemorative summit later this year. Japan will host the G-7 summit in Hiroshima in May 2023, while Indonesia is the chair of ASEAN for 2023.