Japan and Indonesia agree to strengthen alliance

The foreign ministers of Japan and Indonesia agreed on Monday to strengthen the alliance between their two nations as part of efforts to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Japan's Toshimitsu Motegi called Indonesia a strategic partner during his opening remarks at the bilateral meeting held in Tokyo.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi mentioned Myanmar as one of the topics of discussion between the two ministers.

A meeting between foreign ministers and defense ministers of Japan and Indonesia is scheduled for Tuesday.

The so-called two-plus-two talks will be the second of their kind since December 2015.