In a mission to engage with the Global South, Japanese Emperor Naruhito met with President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in Bogor Palace in West Java on Monday, where the emphasis was placed on having stronger ties and improving strategic economic cooperation.

Naruhito’s five-day Indonesia visit until Friday has so far seen the monarch visiting some of Jakarta’s infrastructure projects in collaboration with Japan, including Sunday’s visit to an MRT depot in Lebak Bulus and a pump station in Pluit reservoir that prevents flooding.

The arrival of Naruhito and Empress Masako in Jakarta on Saturday came after Jokowi invited the emperor during a trip to Tokyo last year. This also marks Naruhito's first overseas visit since he was enthroned in 2019.

Ahead of his trip, Naruhito told a press conference in Tokyo last week that he acknowledged the past “difficult time” the two countries had, in an apparent reference to Japan's wartime occupation of Indonesia, then a Dutch colony, in 1942-1945. The Japanese occupation of Asia during World War II is known for its brutal practice of forced labor and sexual slavery.

Naruhito said Japan since then had “worked hard” to champion global peace and prosperity, especially with fellow Asian countries like Indonesia.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Jokowi on Monday, Naruhito said his visit was part of Japan’s continued diplomacy with Indonesia.

“I would like to deepen my understanding of [Indonesia’s] diversity of society and culture, as well as remember those who have worked hard to promote friendly relations between our two countries,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jokowi expressed his gratitude and noted that it was a “significant honor” for Indonesia to be Naruhito’s maiden visit destination, underlining the importance of economic collaboration between Tokyo and Jakarta.

“A strong foundation such as the one we share is needed to advance strategic cooperation, especially on the economic front. Amid the ongoing world challenges, the friendship between the two countries must continue to be built upon,” Jokowi said.

Per January data from the Investment Ministry, Japan is among Indonesia’s largest foreign direct investors, last year accounting for US$3.6 billion flowing into the country. Some of Japan’s most noteworthy projects included the 2019 15.7-kilometer MRT track linking South Jakarta’s Lebak Bulus to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta, where Tokyo played an active role in transferring its technology to local engineers and workers.

Trying out the MRT’s facilities, Naruhito hopped on the front-most car with acting Jakarta governor Heru Budi Hartono on Sunday.

The reservoir pump station in North Jakarta, on the other hand, was an older project completed in 2014 when Japan helped restore the Pluit reservoir to aid in flood mitigation. Naruhito’s spokesperson shortly after the visit told reporters that the project has kept Jakarta from a perpetual flood.

Accompanied by Empress Masako, Naruhito is scheduled to visit the Kalibata cemetery on Tuesday, where Indonesian soldiers, as well as 28 former Japanese soldiers who stayed and fought alongside Indonesians for independence after Japan’s defeat in World War II, were buried.

Naruhito will also travel to Yogyakarta to meet with the Javanese royalty at Yogyakarta Palace and visit Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist temple.

“[The Empress and I] are very proud to have received the Indonesian government’s invitation, and wished that we could visit all destinations [if not] for several considerations while deciding our itinerary,” he said in Tokyo before flying to Jakarta on Saturday.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Japan, as well as the 50th anniversary of ties between Japan and ASEAN, which is chaired by Indonesia this year.

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