Indonesian President Joko Widodo (left) greets French President Emmanuel Macron upon his arrival for a mangrove planting event at Ngurah Rai Forest Park, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, Nov 16, 2022. (DITA ALANGKARA / POOL / AP)

BEIJING - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that France was advancing cooperation with Indonesia on the provision of warplanes and submarines.

He was speaking at the Asia Pacific Economic Coordination (APEC) in Bangkok.

In February, Indonesia and France signed a $8.1 billion deal for 42 Rafale fighter jets, as part of a series of agreements that also included an order of two Scorpnene submarines, making Jakarta the biggest French arms client in Southeast Asia.