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)