Obuchi supports RI reform efforts
JAKARTA (JP): Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi arrived here on Friday for a two-day working visit, thus giving him the distinction of being the first foreign leader to visit Indonesia since the election of Abdurrahman Wahid as president in October.
Abdurrahman personally welcomed Obuchi at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport. The two leaders are scheduled to hold bilateral talks at Merdeka Palace on Saturday before their departure to Manila to attend a summit meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) along with China, Japan and South Korea.
Speaking earlier to journalists onboard his flight from Tokyo, the prime minister said he would underscore Tokyo's support for Indonesian reform efforts during what his officials say is a largely symbolic visit to Jakarta.
"I would like to pay my respects to the Indonesian people and their efforts at seeking a 'rebirth' of their country," he said.
Obuchi is expected to announce plans to send experts to help Indonesia build small- and medium-sized businesses. He is also expected to start talks on a pact to induce Japanese investment to Indonesia.
Quoting Japanese finance ministry officials, Reuters reported that Tokyo would not be able to make any pledges of new money until Jakarta reaches an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over its economic program, expected in late December.
A reliable Japanese source said Obuchi wanted to have closer personal relations with Abdurrahman, who made a two-day visit to Japan last month on his way back from the United States.
Obuchi also wanted to become the first foreign leader to visit Jakarta after Abdurrahman's election, said the source.
"The prime minister is very pleased with the President's decision to come to Tokyo before making a state visit to China," the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
The President is slated to leave for a three-day state visit to China on Wednesday.
Accounts from their first meeting in Tokyo indicate the two leaders hit it off very well.
"I heard you are very good at getting on well with various people, particularly at turning your enemies into friends. I feel this evaluation is quite similar to my own," Obuchi was reported as saying to Abdurrahman.
Soon after his arrival here, Obuchi met with Indonesian top officials such as Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri and People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais.
"As we will not spare any effort in our support for Indonesia's attempts to reform, I want to hold concrete discussions," Obuchi was quoted by Reuters as saying during his flight to Jakarta.
Japan is Indonesia's largest lender country, and its most important trading partner. Japan's official development assistance to Indonesia surged from US$496 million in 1996 to $828 million in 1998, the second largest Japanese aid disbursement last year after $1.15 billion to China.
"I want to convey the message that Japan will not hesitate to provide support to Indonesia," Obuchi said.
After their bilateral talks, Abdurrahman will fly to Brunei for a brief stopover before continuing his trip to Manila. He will stay in the Philippine capital until Monday.(prb)