Japanese Navy chief visits Surabaya

SURABAYA, East Java: Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force chief Adm. Toru Ishikawa visited Indonesia's Eastern Navy Fleet at Surabaya, East Java, on Friday.

Ishikawa, along with his wife and five staff, arrived on a Garuda commercial flight at Surabaya's Juanda Airport and was welcomed by Eastern Fleet Commander Sec. Adm. I.W. Rampih Argawa.

In Surabaya, Ishikawa was scheduled to visit Fatahilah and Hiu warships and Navy Academy Bumimoro.

Before leaving for Surabaya, Ishikawa visited Jakarta, where he met with Indonesian Military chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil at the military headquarters in Cilangkap.

The main goal of the meeting was to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of security and defense.

They also discussed a number of issues, including international terrorism, sea piracy, security in the Malacca Straits, and weapons smuggling. --Antara