Japanese envoy presents credential

JAKARTA: The new Japanese ambassador to Indonesia, Yutaka Iimura, presented his credential to President Megawati Soekarnoputri here on Monday.

The new ambassador was appointed to replace ambassador Yukio Takeuchi, who was named Japan's new deputy foreign minister earlier this year.

Iimura is a senior diplomat who has been with Japan's foreign ministry since 1969, and was assistant vice minister of administrative affairs before being appointed ambassador to Indonesia.

Indonesia has yet to appoint a new ambassador to Japan, after ambassador Sumadi Brotodiningrat was transferred to Washington late last year.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted a candidate to the House of Representatives for approval, but the candidate was rejected. --JP