Indonesia assured of support from Japan

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Japan has given its assurances to President Megawati Soekarnoputri that it would continue to support Indonesia if the world economy slumped into a deep recession, as widely feared.

Megawati described her five-day visit to Japan, just like the visit to the United States previously, as "successful" in securing the necessary support from Tokyo.

Japan would lend it support at the meeting of the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI) in November to review Indonesia's aid needs as well as at the Paris Club meeting, which will look into Jakarta's request to reschedule some of its debts, she told reporters on board a Garuda Indonesia plane on Sunday.

Megawati, who flew home on Sunday, met with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and many Japanese business leaders during her stay.

The threat of an impending global economic recession was triggered by the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11.

"The attacks fueled concerns worldwide. There will be some unexpected consequences for the world economy. Japan, however, has promised to help Indonesia to face the worse-case scenario," Megawati said.

Japan is Indonesia's largest trading partner and also a major source of direct foreign investment and financial aid.

Megawati said the Japanese government hoped that her administration would be able to carry out the economic reform programs and pull Indonesia out of the current crisis.