During his visit to Indonesia, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a summit meeting with H.E. Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia, for about 1 hour from around 3:20 P.M. local time (5:20 P.M. Japan Time) on Friday, January 18. The following is an overview of the meeting. Prime Minister Abe attended a welcome ceremony ahead of the meeting, and held a joint press conference with President Yudhoyono after the meeting.

1. Opening Remarks
   
   (1) President Yudhoyono welcomed Prime Minister Abe's visit to Indonesia in his first overseas trip since taking office, and stated that he would like to work together with Prime Minister Abe to further elevate the bilateral relations to a higher level.
   
   (2) Prime Minister Abe expressed his sympathy for the flood damage in Jakarta caused by recent downpours and expressed readiness for the Government of Japan to offer necessary assistance and cooperation.
   
   (3) Prime Minister Abe took up the hostage-taking by a terrorist group in Algeria, and both leaders completely shared the view that the heavy fatalities caused by such despicable terrorism were in no way excusable and that the atrocity should be condemned strongly.
   
   (4) Prime Minister Abe explained the significance of his visit, stressing the emphasis Japan placed on cooperative relations with ASEAN member states, especially Indonesia, to ensure peace and prosperity in Asia Pacific in light of the changing strategic environment in this region.
   
   
2. Five Principles of Japan's ASEAN Diplomacy
   
   Prime Minister Abe briefly explained Japan's foreign policy toward ASEAN as follows, and President Yudhoyono welcomed it.
   
   (1) Firstly, to work together with ASEAN member countries to establish and expand universal values such as freedom, democracy and basic human rights.
   
   (2) Secondly, to protect the free and open seas as common goods, which are governed by laws and rules and not by might, by all means in cooperation with ASEAN member states, and to welcome the United States' rebalancing to the Asia-Pacific region.
   
   (3) Thirdly, to further promote flows of trade and investment, including goods, money, people and services, through various economic partnership networks, and to connect them to Japan's economic revitalization and prosper together with the ASEAN member states.
   
   (4) Fourthly, to protect and nurture Asia's diverse cultures and traditions.
   
   (5) Fifthly, to actively promote exchanges among younger generations who will bear the future and to further foster mutual understanding.
   
   
3. Bilateral Relations
   
   (1) The two leaders shared the recognition that both countries would promote cooperation in the fields of (a) the economy, (b) politics and security, and (c) people-to-people exchanges on the occasion of this year's 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Indonesia, and that they would further strengthen the bilateral "strategic partnership."
   
   (2) Referring to cooperation in the economic sector, Prime Minister Abe pointed out that the development of Indonesia was a driving force of regional economic growth and important for the rehabilitation of Japanese economy as well. He expressed his expectations that Indonesia would adopt appropriate macroeconomic policy and improve the country's investment environment. Concerning infrastructure development in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area, both leaders shared the view that Japan and Indonesia would promote cooperation for the swift and smooth implementation of the "MPA (Metropolitan Priority Area) Strategic Plan" agreed to by the two countries.
   
   (3) Regarding cooperation in the political and security area, the two leaders shared the perception that both countries would ensure mutual communication through frequent dialogues between heads of state and foreign ministers. They also confirmed steady promotion of bilateral cooperation in such areas as assistance for regional democratization, trilateral cooperation for Palestinian development, and cooperation between their defense authorities.
   
   (4) Regarding people-to-people exchanges, Prime Minister Abe stated that Japan would undertake a new youth exchange program involving some 30,000 people between Japan and Asia-Pacific countries, including ASEAN members, as a "JENESYS (Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths) 2.0 Program," and President Yudhoyono welcomed the initiative.
   
   
4. Regional Issues
   
   (1) Prime Minister Abe stated that Japan would actively support the establishment of the ASEAN Community in 2015, and both leaders shared the recognition that both countries would further promote cooperation on the occasion of the 40th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation this year.
   
   (2) Prime Minister Abe explained Japan's basic position that the Japan-China relationship is one of Japan's most important bilateral relationships and that, as a responsible country in the region, Japan would continue to act calmly and manage bilateral relations by maintaining and strengthening communication with China.
   
   (3) On the East Asia Summit (EAS), Prime Minister Abe stated that Japan would like to develop the EAS as a major forum for discussing regional political and security issues at the summit level. The two leaders shared the view that both countries would support Brunei, this year's chair of ASEAN, to achieve good outcomes at the EAS meeting this year.
   
   (4) Regarding the South China Sea, both leaders shared the recognition that all countries concerned should observe related international rules and laws, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and that issues should be solved peacefully.
   
   (5) Concerning North Korea, Prime Minister Abe said the North Korea's recent missile launch in December last year was an obvious violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and extremely deplorable. Referring to the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea, Prime Minister Abe sought Indonesia's understanding and support of Japan's position, and gained understanding from President Yudhoyono.