Japan's new leader more positive on RI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The new leadership in Japan under the Liberal
\nDemocratic Party (LDP) is likely to be even more positive towards
\nIndonesia, an international relations expert said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Hero U. Kuntjoro Jakti, executive director for the Center for
\nJapanese Studies at the University of Indonesia, said the LDP-led
\ngovernment in Japan will maintain its' focus and pay close
\nattention to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The conservative LDP is very close to big businesses in Japan
\nand thus would likely secure their interests abroad, including in
\nIndonesia, Hero said.<\/p>\n
\"There's already too much at stake, too much money invested in
\nIndonesia,\" Hero said, explaining why he thought the new
\nadministration in Tokyo would maintain a strong interest in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
He was responding to the news from Tokyo yesterday that
\nSocialist Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama was resigning.<\/p>\n
Murayama's likely successor, according to reports from Tokyo,
\nwas current Minister of Trade and Industry Ryutaro Hashimoto from
\nthe LDP, the biggest faction in the ruling coalition.<\/p>\n
Hero said the ascendancy of 58-year old Hashimoto is not
\nexpected to affect Indonesian-Japanese relations in business and
\npolitics.<\/p>\n
Japan is Indonesia's main trading partner, its biggest aid
\ndonor country, and provides the largest private investment in
\nIndonesia. In December, Tokyo signed an agreement to provide
\nUS$1.7 billion in fresh aid for Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The two governments have agreed to expand relations between
\nthe two countries in the cultural field.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the style of leadership likely to arise, Hero
\nbelieves that Hashimoto will maintain his strong conviction
\nagainst fighting U.S. dominance in region.<\/p>\n
He pointed that as trade minister, Hashimoto was very strong
\nin resisting American demands for market concessions to redress
\nthe huge deficit the United States has in its trade with Japan.<\/p>\n
Even in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum --
\nof which the U.S., Japan and Indonesia are all members --
\nHashimoto has made efforts to ensure that it is not dominated by
\nWashington, Hero said. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/japans-new-leader-more-positive-on-ri-1447893297",
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