Japan, Indonesia agree to boost ties in 1st "2+2" meeting

Japan and Indonesia on Thursday agreed to boost cooperation in defense equipment and technologies transfer during their first "two plus two" talks here involving foreign and defense ministers of the two countries.

Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said at a joint press briefing after the meeting that the two countries agreed to start talks on defense equipment transfer, which is a feature of Japan's defense policy shift since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office in late 2012.

The two sides also agreed to set up a hotline between foreign and defense ministers of the two countries, according to Retno Marsudi, Indonesian foreign minister.

The two countries will hold the "two plus two" meeting regularly, he added.

The ministers also discussed counter-terrorism measures in the wake of the deadly terror attacks in Paris.

The Japan-Indonesia "two plus two" meeting also marked the first such meeting between Japan and a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The two countries agreed to arrange the "two-plus-two" meeting during their leaders' summit in March. Enditem