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apanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was evidently happy with the decision of President Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo to pick Japan, a major trading partner and main investor for Indonesia, for his first official visit after his election as the country'€™s seventh president in October. An honor that Japan will surely return.

Jokowi'€™s choice was a carefully planned diplomatic mission. After his four-day stay in Japan, the President continued onto Beijing on Wednesday evening on another official visit, including a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Jokowi visited Beijing late last year to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. The world'€™s third- and second-largest economies are crucial to Indonesia'€™s economic growth.

Apart from trade and investment, Jokowi and Abe also discussed bilateral maritime and defense cooperation, with maritime development a priority for Jokowi, while defense cooperation, including defense equipment development, is a primary target for Abe.

'€œWe'€™ve produced major results at this summit, such as the launch of the high-level maritime forum to achieve an open and stable ocean and the start of '€˜Promosi'€™, the new trade and investment promotion initiative,'€ PM Abe said on Monday.

Meanwhile, the President mentioned that Japan and Indonesia had agreed to launch the forum to improve coast guard capabilities and infrastructure, as well as the maritime industry. Japanese businesspeople gave the President assurances that they would boost their investment in Indonesia, of course under the condition that his government could overcome prolonged handicaps in infrastructure. Indonesia can also reap benefits from the deteriorating relations between Japan and China, as Japanese companies want to reduce their dependence on China. Indonesia is one of most attractive alternatives for them as an investment destination.

Japan is now more isolated in East Asia, with China getting closer to South Korea; both virtually regard Japan as a common enemy. Chinese investment and trade relations with ASEAN members are also rapidly increasing, as well as its political and military influence. Traditionally, Indonesia, which perceives itself as a sub-regional superpower, has always been cautious of regional or global superpowers, including China.

Japan has great strategic interests in Southeast Asia and sees Indonesia as its most important partner in the region. But Indonesia also realizes that it does not want to unnecessarily upset China given its gigantic economy. The President has limited experience and expertise in foreign affairs, but his achievements in Tokyo so far suggest that he knows how to play his cards well.