Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Wednesday after talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo that the Japanese defense forces will participate for the first time in military exercises in Indonesia next month alongside the US and Australia.

The meeting between the two leaders came a day after the Indonesian President visited China for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in which the two pledged to increase trade and expand cooperation in different fields.

After the meeting, Kishida told a news conference that "Indonesia shares fundamental values with us as well as strategic goals, it is a strategic partner."

The Japanese Prime Minister confirmed that Japan's Self-Defence Forces will take part for the first time in the "Garuda Shield" joint military exercises with the US, Australia, and other countries.

In early June, the Japanese Joint Chiefs of Staff affirmed that the Japanese forces and the US military intend to continue cooperation in order to ensure the protection of Japan and peace and stability in the region.

The US had pointed out that the exercises, typically between Indonesia and the US, will be "significantly larger in scope and scale" than in previous years.

Kishida mentioned that Japan would loan the Indonesian government 43.6 billion yen ($318 million) for infrastructure projects and disaster prevention.

Indonesia asked Japan to reduce tariffs on some products

On his part, Widodo pointed to the two country's bilateral ties, adding that Japan and Indonesia agreed to changes in an economic partnership agreement to be signed later this year.

The Indonesian President also asked Japan "to support the reduction of tariffs on some products such as tuna, bananas, pineapple, and market access to mango products."

According to IMF data, Indonesia's imports from Japan reached $9.2 billion in 2020, while its exports to Japan reached $14.5 billion.

It is noteworthy that Widodo will meet Japanese Emperor Naruhito later on Wednesday.