Japan will offer roughly 1.17 billion USD in low-interest loans for theconstruction of a mass rapid transit system in Jakarta, Indonesia, in aneffort to boost bilateral defence and economic ties.

Duringtalks in Tokyo on March 23, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe andIndonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) - who is conducting his firstvisit to Japan since becoming President last October - welcomed thesigning of a defence cooperation agreement that will involve Japanesecapacity-building assistance for Indonesian forces, as well ascooperation in peacekeeping missions and defence equipment development.

They concurred to launch a forum to improve bilateral maritimecooperation and set up a ministerial dialogue to boost economic andindustry coordination.

The two leaders also promoted bilateral"two plus two" meetings involving their defence and foreign ministers.The mechanism was launched in late 2013 but such talks have yet to beheld.

In an effort to ensure regional peace and stability, Abeand Jokowi called on China and the Association of Southeast AsianNations to step up consultations towards early consensus on the Code ofConduct in the East Sea while urging China and other claimants toexercise restraint and settle territorial disputes in line withinternational law.

After a four-day state visit to Japan, Jokowi will travel to China and meet with President Xi Jinping.-VNA