On June 17 (Friday), 2011, H.E. Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia visited GRIPS to deliver a Presidential Lecture titled “Responding to Global Challenges and Strengthening Indonesia-Japan Relations”.  The event was co-organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia and GRIPS.
President Yudhoyono came to Japan this time to visit Kesennuma city of Miyagi Prefecture, with which Indonesia enjoys a long and friendly relationship, in a show of support for victims of the massive March 11 earthquake and tsunami. 
In his speech at GRIPS, delivered to a packed audience, President Yudhoyono expressed his sympathy toward the victims and mentioned that the Indonesian people who have also suffered an earthquake and tsunami disaster in the recent past know exactly how the Japanese feel.  He went on to say how such natural and man-made disasters are no longer limited to local areas but have global impacts, and thus the resolution must also be a global endeavor. 
In terms of Indonesia-Japan relationship, President Yudhoyono emphasized the importance of a stronger collaboration in the fields of economy, regional community development, environment and energy issues, and prevention of natural disasters.
President Yudhoyono also invited a few questions from the floor after his speech, answering questions such as on nuclear energy policy, concluding this exciting event.

A video of the delivered speech (English only) and the script of the speech in PDF (English only) can be seen/ downloaded from below
Video (speech only)
Video (All)
Speech delivered by President Yudhoyono (PDF)