Indonesoa-Japan ties praised

Indonesoa-Japan ties praised

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday cited the close
ties between Japan and Indonesia as a model in which a
relationship between a highly developed and a developing nation
can be mutually beneficial.

In his speech at Merdeka Palace, after accepting the letter of
credentials from Japanese ambassador Taizo Watanabe, Soeharto
said the existing world situation dictated the need for such
cooperation.

"The difficulties of one nation will sooner or later become
the problems of another," Soeharto said.

As ambassador to Jakarta, Watanabe inherits a blossoming state
of relations from previous ambassador Kimio Fujita where
bilateral ties in all sectors have continually improved in the
past few years.

Japan is not only Indonesia's number one investor but also its
biggest trading partner with two-way trade soaring from US$11.3
billion in 1988 to $17.4 billion last year.

Due to mainly oil exports, Indonesia has a $4.9 billion trade
surplus.

Soeharto said that in this fast and ever changing world
Indonesia values the importance of its relationship with Japan
and strongly supports the increased responsibility Tokyo is
assuming in helping to maintain world peace.

Watanabe, 60, is a career diplomat. His previous oversees
posting was as ambassador to Egypt. (mds)