Japanese Emperor Naruhito, visiting Indonesia for the first time, expressed hope Monday that exchanges between young people will further improve the friendship among both countries as he spoke to reporters in Bogor, south of Jakarta.
The emperor made the statement after he and Empress Masako attended a welcoming ceremony at the Indonesian presidential palace in the city hosted by President Joko Widodo.
"We hope we deepen our understanding of your country's society and culture, which are full of diversity, during this trip," the emperor said at the press conference held at an orchid house inside the Bogor Botanical Gardens, located near the palace.
The president said he felt honored to welcome the imperial couple who came to Indonesia on their first official goodwill visit since the emperor's ascension to the throne in 2019, saying it will strengthen the foundation of friendship among the people of both countries.
"Such as strong foundation is needed to improve the strategic partnership between our two countries, particularly in the economic sector," the president said.
During the welcoming ceremony, the emperor and the empress were greeted by the president and first lady Iriana Joko Widodo. The emperor walked along a red carpet with the president and received a formal salute from the guard of honor.
The imperial couple also took part in an agarwood tree-planting ceremony with the president and the first lady at the palace.
The president, widely known as Jokowi, gave a gift of super red arowana, a fish species from West Kalimantan Province on Borneo Island, to the imperial couple.
The president drove a golf buggy, with the emperor sitting next to him and the first lady and the empress in the rear seat, when they visited the botanical garden.
The four also held talks at the palace and during a luncheon.
The visit is the second overseas trip for the emperor and empress since his ascension, their first being to attend the funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. The couple received an invitation from the Indonesian president in July last year.
It comes as Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, chaired this year by Indonesia, mark their 50th anniversary of friendly ties.
The imperial couple arrived in Indonesia on Saturday. The emperor on Sunday visited the rail yard of the mass rapid transit system in Jakarta, MRT Jakarta, which was built with Japan's economic assistance.
They are expected to offer flowers the following day at the Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery, which honors those who fought for Indonesia's independence.
Among the buried are former Japanese soldiers who stayed in Indonesia after the end of Japanese occupation and joined the fight for independence from the Dutch Empire.
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Japan emperor, empress travel to Indonesia for 1st goodwill visit
