Japan to step up aid to Asian countries<\/p>\n
TOKYO (AFP): Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi will soothe Asian
\nfears about Japan's fragile economy while promising more aid to
\nthe region's poorest at a summit this weekend, officials say.
\nThe premier leaves Friday for the summit, stopping off in Jakarta
\nto meet Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid.<\/p>\n
He then flies to Manila where the leaders of the Association
\nof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet their three most powerful
\nneighbors -- Japan, China and South Korea.<\/p>\n
\"The prime minister would like to convey to the ASEAN member
\ncountries that Japan's economic recovery is on its way,\" said
\nObuchi's deputy press secretary, Akitaka Saiki.<\/p>\n
\"Japan will take all necessary measures to make the economic
\nrecovery more certain,\" said the senior aide.<\/p>\n
In its latest effort to revive Japan's economy -- six times as
\nlarge as ASEAN's -- Obuchi announced an 18 trillion yen (US$172
\nbillion) package this month.<\/p>\n
And \"Japan will continue to extend maximum cooperation to the
\nefforts of the ASEAN friends, which are struggling to improve
\ntheir economic situation,\" Saiki said.<\/p>\n
Obuchi will reportedly pledge 20 billion yen in aid for the
\npoor in Asia through the World Bank and the Asian Development
\nBank when he attends the Manila meeting.<\/p>\n
Tokyo has so far promised $80 billion for countries affected
\nby the Asian crisis. The aid includes a 30-billion-dollar package
\nannounced in October 1998 by Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa.
\nDuring the meeting with ASEAN leaders, Obuchi will present a key
\nreport issued last week after a 12-day tour of Asia by a
\ngovernment-ordered mission, led by Toyota Motor Corp. chairman
\nHiroshi Okuda.<\/p>\n
\"(Obuchi) will make an announcement in Manila... in many
\naspects that was proposed by Okuda,\" Saiki said. \"Particular
\nemphasis will be placed on the development of human resources.\"<\/p>\n
The report called on Asian economies and Japan to further open
\ntheir markets, develop small companies, improve the climate for
\nforeign investment and to bolster the use of the yen in Asia.<\/p>\n
The report stressed the importance of long-term engagement in
\nthe region by Japanese companies, and of the success of the ASEAN
\nFree Trade Area in helping liberalize trade.<\/p>\n
ASEAN has called on Obuchi to spell out a fresh aid plan.
\n\"ASEAN expects from Japan full cooperation in its areas of
\ninterest, development projects, social safety nets, (and) human
\nresource development,\" ASEAN secretary general Rodolfo Severino
\nsaid Tuesday in Manila.<\/p>\n
But in return, the Japanese premier may use his attendance to
\ncall on Southeast Asia to close ranks with Tokyo at global trade
\ntalks in Seattle next week.<\/p>\n
Japan's Foreign Minister Yohei Kono sent letters this week to
\nkey ASEAN members, seeking their support for Japan's campaign to
\nprotect agriculture at the World Trade Organization talks,
\nbeginning November 30.<\/p>\n
On the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, Obuchi is to hold
\nseparate talks with Chinese Prime Minister Zhu Rongji, South
\nKorean President Kim Dae-Jung and Philippine President Joseph
\nEstrada.<\/p>\n
Japan is the largest donor to ASEAN, with official development
\nassistance at $2,361 million in 1998 compared with $1,354 million
\nin 1997.<\/p>\n
Japan's trade surplus with ASEAN dropped 14.7 percent from a
\nyear earlier to 370 billion yen in the six months to June.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/japan-to-step-up-aid-to-asian-countries-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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