REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Japan's Ambassador to ASEAN Kazuo Sunaga said Indonesia is an important country in the ASEAN and is in a position of leadership as it has the biggest area and the largest population in South East Asia.

"Jakarta is a home base for the ASEAN Secretariat and Indonesia is an important leader among the ASEAN member countries," Sunaga said here on Monday.

Sunaga had paid a courtesy call to the Vice President, Jusuf Kalla, to introduce himself as the new Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN for 2016-2019.

The Ambassador also told Kalla that the Japanese government was willing to enhance in the institution of East Asia Summit (EAS) along with Indonesia.

Ten ASEAN countries as well as Japan, Australia, the United States, India, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia and China participate in this summit.

One of Indonesia's significant roles in the EAS is in arriving at an agreement on maritime cooperation among East Asia countries, including cooperation in ensuring that the region remains stable during the EAS in Malaysia.

Sunaga also lauded Indonesia's role as the host of the EAS ambassadors' meeting in Jakarta.

"The meeting of the EAS ambassadors was held in Jakarta. We followed up on the development of the EAS with the Indonesian government in good faith," Sunaga stated.

Sunaga assumed charge as the Japanese Ambassador to ASEAN, replacing Ambassador Koichi Aiboshi.

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