RI, Japan agree to hold talks every 2 months
RI, Japan agree to hold talks every 2 months
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia and Japan have ended the first round of negotiations on
a bilateral free trade agreement and agreed to hold comprehensive
talks every two months, a senior official at the Ministry of
Trade says.
The two-day talks in Jakarta on the Japan-Indonesia Economic
Partnership Agreement (EPA) -- a wider version of a free trade
agreement (FTA) -- followed a bilateral agreement between
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Japanese Prime Minister
Junichiro Koizumi last month in Tokyo.
"We agreed to have meetings at least every two months," the
official told The Jakarta Post on Sunday confirming earlier
reports from Japanese media.
The official went on to say a second meeting would take place
early in October with an interim meeting to be held in August or
September.
The official refused to be named as the ministry was expecting
to make an official statement on Monday.
Separately, Deputy Japanese Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka
reported to the Japanese media on Friday the conclusions of the
first round of talks, although no specific time frame for the
completion of the EPA negotiations was discussed.
The reports said Yabunaka had met with Minister of Trade Mari
E. Pangestu on the sidelines of the meeting, during which they
agreed to proceed with the negotiations speedily.
Yabunaka led the Japanese delegation, while former ambassador
to Japan Soemadi Brotodiningrat, who is now ambassador to the
United States, headed the Indonesian delegation.
In the June 2 meeting, Koizumi and Yudhoyono agreed that the
two countries would conclude the EPA talks "within a reasonable
period of time".
Officials at the ministry earlier said, however, the
negotiations would probably take two years but could take 18
months if progress was sped up.
During the first round of talks, the ministry official and
Yabunaka said six working sessions were held, discussing trade in
goods and services, investment policy, movement of people,
intellectual property rights and bilateral cooperation.
"We have not exchanged any formal lists of requests and
offers, but it seems it was a good start, maybe because of an
eagerness for inviting more investment from the Indonesian side
and the accumulated experience of our side through similar talks
with the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand," the official said
as quoted by Kyodo News.
The Ministry of Trade earlier said that in the agricultural
sector, Indonesia had asked Japan to recognize the country as
being free from foot-and-mouth disease, so that in the future,
Indonesia could export meat and dairy products to Japan.
Indonesia is also seeking Japan's support to strengthen its
local tuna fisheries management, as well as to combat illegal
fishing in the country's exclusive economic zone.
Japan, meanwhile, has requested that Indonesia explain its
investment regulations and reduce or eliminate tariffs on vehicle
parts.