Jakarta. Satoshi Mori, a foreign policy expert at Japan's Hosei University, said Indonesia should play an equally strong role in the Indo-Pacific region's security and economy to stabilize the region.

The academic said Indonesia is currently on the right path to achieve this goal.

"President Jokowi's strategy is persuasion in the security area, for example the maritime axis initiative. I think this is the right way for Indonesia to go," Mori said during the Jakarta Geopolitical Forum at the Borobudur Hotel in South Jakarta on Friday (19/05), referring to Presidency Joko Widodo by his popular nickname.

He added that Japan has been assisting the president with his maritime axis initiative.

"There is a lot of maritime security cooperation, maybe maritime industry corporation, and a lot more. So, in the security area, I think Indonesia is on the right path," Mori said.

Yang Yi, secretary general of the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), said Indonesia has been cooperating with China in many sectors, especially infrastructure development.

"We have a lot of potential in cooperative areas, including agriculture, mining, energy and infrastructure, such as the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung railway and many other projects," Yang said.

While echoing Yang's sentiments, Mori added that Indonesia should focus on more than just infrastructure development.

"Indonesia is obviously focused on infrastructure development. However, it should also look beyond infrastructure development," Mori said.

Mori believes Indonesia should focus more on education to develop the more advanced sectors of its economy, as this will allow it to join the ranks of the world's major economic powers. He said Indonesia can become an important player in the world economy.

"Indonesia should also be thinking about creating advanced sectors so it will be able to join the top economies. For that, education is critically important," the academic said.

Addressing the South China Sea dispute, Yang admitted that the issue impacts diplomatic ties between China and countries in Southeast Asia. However, he believes the problem would be solved immediately, as the presidents of China and Indonesia have met in Beijing to discuss a solution.

"Indonesia is the only Asean country in the G-20, and Indonesia is the biggest Muslim country in the world. From a Chinese perspective, I think Indonesia could play an important role in international relations," Yang said.