Japan compiles new RI aid package

Japan compiles new RI aid package

TOKYO (Dow Jones): The Japanese government hopes to put
together a package mapping out the specifics for new aid for
Indonesia before the end of this month, the deputy press
secretary to Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi said Wednesday.

Asked if there were any references to specific aid measures
during Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid's two-day visit to
Japan, Akitaka Saiki told a press conference: "The prime minister
has said that Japan would spare no efforts in helping Indonesia's
nation-building efforts, but the specifics will have to be
discussed from now."

He added that if time permits, Obuchi will visit President
Wahid in Jakarta before attending a meeting of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations plus three nations to be held in Manila
on Nov. 27 and 28.

"We will work on what we can do for Indonesia" before the
potential visit, Saiki said.

Regarding the Asean plus three meeting itself, Saiki said that
the chairman of the Japan Federation of Employers' Association,
or Nikkeiren, is due to present to Obuchi this evening proposals
for aid toward the region, which have been compiled by a mission
he leads.

The mission consists of business leaders and members of the
government, and was set up to study possible projects that Japan
and Southeast Asian nations could work on jointly to reinvigorate
the region's economy.

"We will ponder the contents of the (mission's) report. I
think this will lead to a new package announcement" in Manila,
Saiki said.

He also said Japan will bring up the subject of trade in
Manila, in particular the benefits the region could gain from
assuming an active role in the next round of global trade talks,
slated to be launched in Seattle later this month.

"Japan has to assume a certain amount of responsibility as a
leader of this economic region," Saiki said, referring to Japan's
efforts so far to lure as many developing countries to its side
regarding the agenda for the next round of trade talks.