Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian and Japanese governments have agreed to intensify cooperation in maintaining stability in the Southeast Asian, East Asian, Asia and the Pacific regions.

The two nations have agreed that the stability in Asia must be maintained, and Japan as well as Indonesia will actively contribute to safeguarding of regional security, either in Southeast Asia, East Asia and Asia and the Pacific, Julian A Pasha, a presidential spokesman, said here on Tuesday.

Pasha made the statement after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono when receiving a courtesy call by the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) Chief of Staff, General Eji Kamizuka.

President Yudhoyono on the occasion said in his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Jakarta on January 18, 2013, the two nations agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in all fields, not only in the economic sector.

"As we have known, the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Japan are very sound, solid and keep on flourishing, including cooperation in defense and military," the head of state said.

In the meeting, General Eji Kamizuka was accompanied by Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Yoshinori Katori, Colonel Yoshihisa Nakano (the head of the research and division C4 of the JGSDF`s Program and Policy Department), and the Japanese embassy`s Defense Attache Captain Toshiako Kondo.

President Yudhoyono was flanked by Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Army Chief of Staff General Pramono Edhie Wibowo and Teuku Faizasyah, a presidential special staff for international relations.

Minister Marty said the two countries` delegations in the meeting discussed cooperation in military.

"The discussions concerned efforts to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation including in maintaining the (regional) stability," the minister stated.

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Editor: Maryati
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