Kishida, Joko Expected To Discuss Ukraine
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will arrive in Indonesia on Friday for a meeting with President Joko Widodo. The leaders are expected to discuss Ukraine and other issues.
Indonesia chairs the Group of 20 this year. But the country is facing difficulty handling different opinions on whether Russia should be allowed to attend G20 gatherings following its invasion of Ukraine. It is expected to seek Japan's understanding on its position regarding Russia's participation in G20 meetings.
Indonesia, which has the largest economy in Southeast Asia, hopes to quickly resume economic activities with Japan as part of its effort to recover from the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Foreign Ministry in Tokyo says Japan's investment in Indonesia last year almost halved from the pre-pandemic level recorded in 2019.
The Indonesian government is asking for assistance to upgrade primarily ports, railways and other infrastructure. It is also trying to lure back tourists to its resorts, including the island of Bali.
Indonesia is heavily reliant on coal-fired power generation. The country is appealing for financial and technical support from Japan and other nations to help it boost its use of other energy sources.