Japan and Indonesia pledged on Saturday to deepen economic and defense ties during a visit by the Japanese prime minister, seen as promoting regional cooperation as China flexes its muscle and Donald Trump prepares to take over as the next U.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba became the first foreign leader to visit Indonesia this year, meeting President Prabowo Subianto a day after visiting neighboring Malaysia.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has invited Japan to take part in the country’s industrialisation programmes, with an emphasis on downstream industries, during a meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is visiting Malaysia and Indonesia as part of an effort to strengthen defense and economic ties with Southeast Asia as China's threat grows in the region. The visit,