Prabowo, Emperor Naruhito Emphasise People-to-People Ties, Avoid Political Issues

Tokyo, The Gulf Observer: Prabowo Subianto and Emperor Naruhito focused on strengthening bilateral relations and people-to-people ties during their meeting at the Imperial Palace on Monday, without addressing political matters, according to Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono.

Speaking in a statement issued in Jakarta on Tuesday, Sugiono said the discussions highlighted the longstanding strategic partnership between Indonesia and Japan.

“As we all know, the emperor serves as a national symbol of Japan. Therefore, the conversation did not revolve around political matters, but rather focused on bilateral relations and people-to-people connections,” he said.

The minister noted that the meeting lasted approximately 20 minutes, during which Emperor Naruhito expressed hope for the continued welfare and proper treatment of Indonesian citizens residing in Japan.

The Japanese monarch also underscored the importance of maintaining open communication between the two nations to further strengthen mutual understanding and societal ties.

“In cases where concerns arise, the Japanese side encouraged us to communicate them openly so that both countries can build a truly close relationship between their peoples,” Sugiono added.

Following the meeting, President Prabowo held a separate engagement with Crown Prince Fumihito, the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito.

The leaders later attended a state luncheon at Rensui North within the Imperial Palace complex, known for its classical architectural setting.

President Prabowo was accompanied by senior Indonesian officials, including Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

As part of his visit to Japan, the Indonesian President also participated in the Indonesia-Japan Business Forum, alongside ministers and leading business representatives.

The forum yielded 10 business-to-business agreements valued at approximately $22.6 billion, reflecting strong momentum in expanding economic cooperation between the two countries, particularly in key sectors such as industry, energy, and technology.