Koizumi ends visit, wins backing for free trade vision
Koizumi ends visit, wins backing for free trade vision
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi ended his two-day state visit to Indonesia on Sunday, winning unreserved support from President Megawati Soekarnoputri for his regional free trade vision.
Koizumi, who arrived here on Saturday, flew out of the country at noon from Halim Perdanakusumah airport to Singapore Sunday, his fifth and last stop on a tour of Southeast Asia.
Earlier on Sunday, Koizumi laid a wreath at the Kalibata Hero's Cometary in South Jakarta and called on House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, who was accompanied by House deputy speaker Tosari Wijaya, chairman of House Commission I Ibrahim Ambong, Commission I vice chairman Astrid Susanto, and the deputy chairman of Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation, Iris Indiramurti.
Briefing the press after the meeting, Akbar said Koizumi had raised questions relating to Indonesia's domestic security and political conditions, the election system employed for the 2004 general elections and the registration mechanism for legislative members.
Koizumi, according to Akbar, fully supported Indonesia's efforts to create political stability and maintain territorial integrity and national unity for the sake of people's welfare.
Akbar also said Japan would continue to help Indonesia revive its economy, battered since the 1997 economic crisis.
"Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi expressed the commitment of the Japanese government to continue to assist Indonesia in its economic recovery and in its development," Tandjung said.
Akbar said he also asked Prime Minister Koizumi to boost bilateral trade and promote investment in Indonesia, especially in building infrastructure as well as opening the door to more Indonesian exports.
Koizumi had already dashed Jakarta's hopes of a new major loan commitment to help it surmount its daunting economic problems.
During the meeting, Koizumi also handed over 40 books on politics and economics to Akbar as the House speaker.
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said earlier that Jakarta expected Tokyo to offer fresh loans or some other form of aid during Koizumi's visit.
Koizumi was only considering offering US$10 million to help people made homeless by internal conflicts in Aceh and the Maluku islands, as well as for East Timorese refugees in Indonesia's West Timor, his officials said.
He also promised 500 million yen ($3.8 million) to improve elementary and secondary education.
During his talks with Megawati, Koizumi had briefed her on his proposed comprehensive economic partnership between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) of which Indonesia is a founding member.
The partnership, which Koizumi said may include free trade accords between Japan and the 10-member ASEAN, should be expanded to other regional countries such as China, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
Megawati has welcomed the idea.
Jakarta has been among the biggest recipients of Tokyo's foreign aid, with a total amount of more than four trillion yen ($40 billion) over the past two to three decades.