RI, Japan agree to hold talks every 2 months<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia and Japan have ended the first round of negotiations on
\na bilateral free trade agreement and agreed to hold comprehensive
\ntalks every two months, a senior official at the Ministry of
\nTrade says.<\/p>\n
The two-day talks in Jakarta on the Japan-Indonesia Economic
\nPartnership Agreement (EPA) -- a wider version of a free trade
\nagreement (FTA) -- followed a bilateral agreement between
\nPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Japanese Prime Minister
\nJunichiro Koizumi last month in Tokyo.<\/p>\n
\"We agreed to have meetings at least every two months,\" the
\nofficial told The Jakarta Post on Sunday confirming earlier
\nreports from Japanese media.<\/p>\n
The official went on to say a second meeting would take place
\nearly in October with an interim meeting to be held in August or
\nSeptember.<\/p>\n
The official refused to be named as the ministry was expecting
\nto make an official statement on Monday.<\/p>\n
Separately, Deputy Japanese Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka
\nreported to the Japanese media on Friday the conclusions of the
\nfirst round of talks, although no specific time frame for the
\ncompletion of the EPA negotiations was discussed.<\/p>\n
The reports said Yabunaka had met with Minister of Trade Mari
\nE. Pangestu on the sidelines of the meeting, during which they
\nagreed to proceed with the negotiations speedily.<\/p>\n
Yabunaka led the Japanese delegation, while former ambassador
\nto Japan Soemadi Brotodiningrat, who is now ambassador to the
\nUnited States, headed the Indonesian delegation.<\/p>\n
In the June 2 meeting, Koizumi and Yudhoyono agreed that the
\ntwo countries would conclude the EPA talks \"within a reasonable
\nperiod of time\".<\/p>\n
Officials at the ministry earlier said, however, the
\nnegotiations would probably take two years but could take 18
\nmonths if progress was sped up.<\/p>\n
During the first round of talks, the ministry official and
\nYabunaka said six working sessions were held, discussing trade in
\ngoods and services, investment policy, movement of people,
\nintellectual property rights and bilateral cooperation.<\/p>\n
\"We have not exchanged any formal lists of requests and
\noffers, but it seems it was a good start, maybe because of an
\neagerness for inviting more investment from the Indonesian side
\nand the accumulated experience of our side through similar talks
\nwith the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand,\" the official said
\nas quoted by Kyodo News.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Trade earlier said that in the agricultural
\nsector, Indonesia had asked Japan to recognize the country as
\nbeing free from foot-and-mouth disease, so that in the future,
\nIndonesia could export meat and dairy products to Japan.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is also seeking Japan's support to strengthen its
\nlocal tuna fisheries management, as well as to combat illegal
\nfishing in the country's exclusive economic zone.<\/p>\n
Japan, meanwhile, has requested that Indonesia explain its
\ninvestment regulations and reduce or eliminate tariffs on vehicle
\nparts.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-japan-agree-to-hold-talks-every-2-months-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}