Mega, Koizumi to cochair ASEAN-Japan summit<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri is leaving for Japan on
\nWednesday to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-
\nJapan commemorative summit aimed at improving relations between
\nASEAN and Japan.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Friday
\nthat the summit would issue a joint declaration and an action
\nplan for new initiatives.<\/p>\n
\"Japan has always been the main source of investment in the
\nregion and we expect that it will maintain this role, despite the
\nnew economic development in China,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Hassan said the region expected Japan to continue to boost
\ninvestments in sectors such as trade and oil and gas.<\/p>\n
\"Japan remains a major buyer of Indonesia's oil and gas and we
\nwish to maintain this, even if the region has a new player in
\nChina.\"<\/p>\n
All 10 ASEAN leaders are slated to attend the two-day summit
\nthat will begin on Dec. 11 in Tokyo. Preceding the meeting is an
\ninvestment forum on Dec. 10.<\/p>\n
The summit, co-chaired by Megawati and Japanese Prime Minister
\nJunichiro Koizumi, is expected to issue a Tokyo Declaration for a
\ndynamic and enduring ASEAN-Japan partnership in the new
\nmillennium, which will be annexed to the ASEAN-Japan action plan.<\/p>\n
\"The declaration will cover a wide range of issues, from
\neconomic to political, to security cooperation,\" Hassan said.<\/p>\n
During the summit, Japan is also expected to formalize its
\naccession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast
\nAsia, following the move by China in October.<\/p>\n
The ASEAN partner country next in line to join the treaty is
\nRussia.<\/p>\n
Hassan said the summit would be broken down into two sessions,
\nwith the first focusing on evaluating the 10-year relationship
\nbetween ASEAN and Japan, to be chaired by Megawati.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Koizumi will chair the second session on the
\nfuture outlook for ASEAN-Japan relations.<\/p>\n
Megawati is also slated to meet with Malaysian Prime Minister
\nAbdullah Achmad Badawi on the sidelines of the summit, the first
\nmeeting between the two leaders after Badawi's installment in
\nOctober.<\/p>\n
The presidential entourage will then leave for Shanghai,
\nChina, on Dec. 13, where she will stay overnight. No official
\nitinerary has been scheduled for the President in Shanghai.<\/p>\n
Following, the entourage will leave for Pakistan on Dec. 14 to
\ndiscuss various bilateral issues.<\/p>\n
\"It is only fair for the President to visit Pakistan, since
\nshe has already visited India. The two countries are good friends
\nof Indonesia,\" Hassan said.<\/p>\n
In Pakistan, Megawati is to meet President Pervez Musharraf
\nand Prime Minister Zafarulah Khan Jamail, and visit an industrial
\ncomplex in Taxila.<\/p>\n
Three memorandums of understanding on the eradication of drug
\ntrafficking, on education and the establishment of a joint
\ncommission is expected to be signed during the visit.<\/p>\n
Megawati is scheduled to return to Jakarta on Dec. 17.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mega-koizumi-to-cochair-asean-japan-summit-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }