Jakarta (ANTARA) – The close bilateral relations between Indonesia and Japan are reflected in their technical cooperation in the infrastructure sector, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono has said.”This technical cooperation showed how strong Indonesia-Japan relations are,”Hadimuljonosaid in a statement received here on Wednesday. Indonesia iscommitted to continuing this cooperation in the future, including during the upcoming 10th World Water Forum in Bali on May 1824, 2024, as Japan had successfully organized the 3rd World Water Forum in 2003 in Kyoto, he said. The minister highlighted that Indonesia has engaged in infrastructure development cooperation with Japan for the last 65 years since 1958. He pointed out that the construction of check dams as eruption disaster countermeasures as well as the development of water resources management, flood mitigation, beach conservation, sanitation facilities, and toll roads have been some of the outcomes of the bilateral cooperation. The Indonesian Government also appreciates the Japanese government’s Global South cooperation initiative for addressing various issues related to water, such as hydrological disasters, water cycle, and water quality, Hadimuljono said. In line with the initiative, Indonesia will propose the inclusion of two agendas, Bandung Spirit Summit Session and World Lake Day, into United Nations resolutions, the minister informed. “We will invite Japan to discuss the two agendas during the 2nd Stakeholders Consultation Meeting (SCM) on October 1213, 2023, in Bali, as a milestone before the 10th World Water Forum in 2024 under a political process,” Hadimuljono said. t present, the regional process for the forum comprises the three regions of Asia-Pacific, Mediterranean, and America, he added. Meanwhile, the inclusion of other regions, such as Africa, remains under discussion, he informed. “We highly appreciate the Japan Water Forum’s (JWF’s) participation as a leader in the Asia-Pacific’s regional process. We are ready to collaborate with JWF to ensure smooth preparation,” he said. Japanese experts have been invited to participate as coordinators for the six sub-themes of the 10th World Water Forum, he added. Hadimuljono also urged the Japanese government to push for the active participation of Japanese companies, institutions, and experts in the 10th World Water Forum, its side events, and relevant activities.
Source: Antara News Agency