JAKARTA (AFP) - Japans Prince Akishino and his wife Princess Kiko met with Indonesias President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Saturday as they began a week-long visit to the worlds most populous Muslim nation.
Prince Akishino, Emperor Akihitos second son, is scheduled to attend the celebrations marking 50 years of Indonesian-Japanese diplomatic relations in Jakarta on Sunday.
"The president appreciates the Emperor sending the prince because this is an honour for Indonesian-Japanese relations," presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal told reporters.
The prince will visit the ancient Central Java city of Yogyakarta and surrounding areas, meet the areas Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, and visit historic Prambanan and Borobudur temples, the Japanese embassy website said.
The 42-year-old prince will stay in the country until January 24.
Japan occupied Indonesia from 1942 until the end of World War II, seizing control from Dutch colonial forces. Indonesia declared independence in 1945 but then spent four years fighting before the Dutch acknowledged the declaration.
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