Rules-based order crucial amid Ukraine crisis, Kishida tells Indonesian leader

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Friday confirmed they will strengthen cooperation toward realizing a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" amid China's growing assertiveness in the region and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Widodo said Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations stand ready to build cooperation with their partners, and Kishida, who is on the first stop of his trip to Southeast Asia and Europe, underscored the importance of upholding the rules-based international order. "We are facing many challenges, including the situations in Ukraine, the East and South China seas and North Korea, and maintaining and strengthening the rules-based, free and open international order has become more important," Kishida said during a joint news conference after the summit. Kishida said that based on such understanding, the two sides confirmed they will strengthen cooperation toward realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, an initiative that Japan has been pushing, and the ASEAN Outlook spearheaded by Indonesia. Japan views Indonesia, this year's host of the Group of 20 summit to be held in November and a key economy in Southeast Asia, as a strategic partner sharing universal values such as democracy and the rule of law.