Japan and Indonesia have agreed to strengthen security cooperation and to hold a meeting of their foreign and defense ministers.

The agreements were reached during summit talks between Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto at the Bogor Presidential Palace near the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Saturday.

In the meeting that lasted for about two hours, Ishiba noted that Japan and Indonesia are similar in that both are maritime nations, and that their diplomacy rests on balancing their relations with the United States and China.

With China's increasing maritime activities in mind, the two leaders shared the recognition that it is important to strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law and step up bilateral cooperation in the security sector.

They also agreed on Japan's provision of high-speed patrol boats to Indonesia under a Japanese framework known as the Official Security Assistance, which is designed to steadily provide like-minded countries with defense equipment and other support.

Ishiba and Prabowo also agreed that their foreign and defense ministers will meet this year for the first time since 2021.

The two reaffirmed their countries' cooperation in measures against earthquakes and other natural disasters, the stable supply of energy, and human resource development.

Ishiba vowed to send experts to Indonesia to help with the introduction of a school lunch program, which the Indonesian president has expressed aspiration for.

At a joint news conference, Ishiba said that Southeast Asia is a center of global growth when the international state of affairs become increasingly complex and uncertain.

He said that Japan wants to closely work with Indonesia to lead the world toward harmonization by realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Prabowo said that Indonesia intends to maintain good relations with all nations and economic blocs around the world.

Indonesia has formally joined BRICS, which includes China and Russia, while focusing on relations with Japan, the United States and Europe.