Habibie visits Japan for economic talks

Habibie visits Japan for economic talks

JAKARTA (JP): Vice President B.J. Habibie is scheduled this
afternoon to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro
Hashimoto and other top leaders as a part of his four-day
official visit to Tokyo.

The Vice President's visit, widely covered by Japanese media,
is expected to focus on efforts to strengthen bilateral relations
between the two countries. Special attention will be given to
Indonesia's economic crisis, Japanese sources said yesterday.

"The Vice President's meetings with key Japanese leaders in
the government and in the business sector show that he is treated
as a leader who will play a key role in the two countries'
relations in the future," a Japanese source, speaking on the
condition of anonymity, told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Habibie's 22-strong entourage includes his wife Hasri Ainun
Besari, State Minister of Research and Technology Rahardi
Ramelan, director of Bank Indonesia Haryono, and director of the
Center for Information and Development Studies (CIDES) think tank
Adi Sasono.

Thirty-two top businessmen including chairman of the
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Aburizal
Bakrie, Lippo Group's James Riady and Modern Group's Samadikun
Hartono also joined Habibie in Tokyo.

Only one reporter from the state-ran television station TVRI
was invited to cover the visit.

"Pak Habibie himself wants minimum coverage during this
visit," a senior government official said.

Foreign minister Keizo Obuchi hosted an official dinner last
night to honor Habibie and his wife Ainun.

Today, Habibie is scheduled to meet with Minister of
Agriculture Yoshinobu Shimamura, Minister of Finance Hikaru
Matsunaga, and Minister of International Trade and Industry
Mitsuo Horinouchi.

Soichiro Toyoda, chairman of the powerful Federation of
Economic Organizations (Kaidanren), will hold a working luncheon
with Habibie.

Prime Minister Hashimoto himself held a meeting with President
Soeharto here Sunday to discus the country's economic turmoil.

"Hashimoto and Habibie will likely focus their discussions on
how to help Indonesia out of the economic turmoil. Indonesia's
recovery is very important for regional stability," a Japanese
official said Sunday.

Japan is Indonesia's largest trading partner and lender and
Indonesia is the largest recipient of Japan's official
development assistance (ODA), taking a total of U.S.$26 billion
since 1966.

"The Vice President will also meet (tomorrow) with Tasaku
Takagaki, chairman of the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi, Yasuda,
president of Japan's Exim bank, and other top leaders," a
Japanese source said.

Habibie and his entourage will leave Tokyo Saturday morning
and arrive in Jakarta in the evening.

Separately, Antara quoted Germany's Minister of Economy Gunter
Rexrodt as lauding Habibie's election last week because Habibie
played a vital role in the two countries' relations.

"No one, except Habibie, has the capability to mediate
Indonesia and German relations in science and technology," he
said. (prb)