"The President will meet with 16 CEOs of large Japanese companies," stated Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, after accompanying President Yudhoyono to a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday.
The Japanese businessmen, who will meet with the Indonesian leader, are part of the Japan-Indonesia Association (Japinda), confirmed Teuku Faizasyah, presidential aide for international relations, in a press statement.
The Japanese delegation, which will be led by former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, will comprise CEOs from leading Japanese companies, such as Mitsubushi, Marubeni, Toshiba, Sumitomo and Toyota.
On Friday afternoon, President Yudhoyono held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Abe to discuss a wide range of issues, including trade and investment relations.
"In the economic field, we have agreed to strengthen cooperation in investment and infrastructure, based on a ministerial-level agreement, to develop an MPA (Metropolitan Priority Area) project in and around Jakarta. President Yudhoyono and I are convinced of this political determination to implement this plan," stated Abe at a press conference following the meeting.
Yudhoyono noted that cooperation between the two countries has been good and will continue to improve.
"At the meeting, Prime Minister Abe and I have agreed to enhance cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, infrastructure and so on," he added.
The Indonesian leader and entourage arrived at Haneda airport in Tokyo on Thursday to attend a commemoration of the 40th anniversary of the cooperation between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They will stay on in Tokyo until Sunday.
On Friday morning, the Indonesian president delivered a lecture on the "Regional Security Architecture" at the Kensei Kinen Kaikan. The event was organized by the Japan Institute of International Affairs in cooperation with the Japan-Indonesia Parliamentary League, the Japanese foreign ministry and the Indonesian embassy in Tokyo.
President Yudhoyono is accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, Special Aide for Economic and Development Affairs Firmanzah, Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam and presidential spokesman Julian A. Pasha.
(S012/INE/a014)
Reporting by Panca Hari Prabowo
EDITED BY INE
(KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
