Indonesia, Japan kick off new relations

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Japanese Prince Fumihito Akishino each shook an angklung (Sundanese instrument made of bamboo) on Friday to signal a new chapter in Indonesia-Japan relations.

Both leaders said they had hopes of strengthening and widening ties that would create prosperity for both nations.

The sound of the two angklungs wrapped up the ceremony in the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in East Jakarta and marked the beginning of a year's worth of events aimed at creating a greater understanding between people of both nations.

The event also celebrated the golden jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

On Jan. 20, 1958, then-Indonesian foreign minister Subandrio and then-Japanese Foreign Minister Aiichiro Fujiyama signed a peace agreement as well as an agreement on Japan's war reparation payments to the archipelago.

Speaking in front of hundreds of Japanese and Indonesian businesspeople, officials and media representatives, Prince Akishino, the second son of Japanese Emperor Akihito, said it was important for both countries to continue to embark on beneficial bilateral relations.

"We need to foster heart-to-heart relations by enhancing interactions among our people," he said.

Prince Akishino, who was accompanied by his wife Princess Kiko Akishino, said the more Indonesians who worked and studied in Japan, the more those in the archipelago would become familiar with his country.

He said he hoped 2008, which is named "Indonesia-Japan Friendship Year", would increase and enhance friendships and an understanding between the two nations.

While acknowledging Japan's role in Indonesian economic development, Yudhoyono spoke of Indonesia's contribution to Japan's economic growth.

He said he hoped bilateral ties would be "strengthened, widened and rooted into people of both countries".

"The world has changed since 1958," Yudhoyono said.

"Japan has become the world's second biggest economy while Indonesia has turned into the third largest democracy.

"Our inter-dependence becomes stronger now."

Yudhoyono's audience was made up of many Indonesian ministers, including Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda and Trade Minister Mari Pangestu.

He said in order to foster stronger ties, Indonesia and Japan should enhance activities in education, culture, and youth exchange programs.

He said these activities should be in addition to activities in economic fields, which have been to-date based around Indonesia's rich natural resources, such as oil and gas, and Japan's strong technology and production of technology.

The President underlined the need for Japan to transfer its technology to help Indonesia cope with the current problems of climate change and natural disasters.

"I hope that Indonesia and Japan can cooperate to contribute to efforts to create world peace and save the environment," Yudhoyono said.

Both countries deepened their political and economic ties by signing a strategic partnership for peaceful and prosperous future agreement in 2006 and the economic partnership agreement last year.

Japan is Indonesia's largest trading partner.

Two-way trade amounted to US$27.2 billion in 2006, with $16.2 billion surplus in Indonesia's favor.

Japan is also among Indonesia's largest foreign investors, with approved investment plans amounting to $1.68 billion in 2005.

With more than 1,000 Japanese companies operating in Indonesia, Japan's cumulative investment in Indonesia reached $39.4 billion from 1967 to 2006 and created more than 200,000 jobs.