Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Noda by H.E. Ir. M. Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia

On Tuesday, October 9, Mr. Yoshihiko Noda, the Prime Minister, received a courtesy call from H.E. Ir. M. Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, who was visiting Japan to attend the Second Japan-Indonesia Ministerial Economic Dialogue and other meetings, for approximately 20 minutes from 11:30 a.m. An overview of the meeting is as follows (attending on the Indonesian side included H.E. Mr. Mohamad Hidayat, Minister of Industry, H.E. Ms. Mari Elka Pangestu, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, and H.E. Mr. Muhammad Lutfi, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Japan. Attending on the Japanese side included members of the Japan-Indonesia Parliamentary Friendship League of the democratic Party of Japan, such as Mr. Yutaka Banno as Chairman, Mr. Hirofumi Ryu as Acting Chairman, Ms. Masayo Tanabu as Vice-Chairperson, and Mr. Toshiharu Todoroki, a member of the House of Councilors, Mr. Yoshinori Katori, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Indonesia, and Mr. Kazuhide Ishikawa, Director-General of the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and others.):

1. Bilateral relations

(1) Prime Minister Noda stated that he hold a meaningful meeting with H.E. Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the President of the Republic of Indonesia, in the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss not only the bilateral relations but also the regional issues. Prime Minister Noda also stated that trade and investment relations between Japan and Indonesia are in a good condition and he would like to further expand the mutually beneficial relationship through cooperation such as infrastructure development. Furthermore, Prime Minister Noda welcomed holding the Second Japan-Indonesia Ministerial Economic Meeting, highly appreciated the fact that the Master Plan of the Metropolitan Priority Areas (MPA) for Investment in the Jabodetabek Area was to be approved, and stated his expectation that the Japan-Indonesia Strategic Partnership would be further strengthened in the field of economy as well through the Coorindating Minister Hatta’s current visit to Japan.

(2) In response, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta stated that his delegation received an instruction from President Yudhoyono to strengthen the bilateral relations in the fields of trade, investment and industry, and at the same time to improve the partnership between the two countries by seeking a solution if there was any problem. Moreover, Coordinating Minister Hatta stated that not only have Japan and Indonesia been strategic partners, but have been long-time friends, and therefore, he would like to make every possible effort to strengthen bilateral relations through the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and other measures.

2. Regional situations

(1) Prime Minister Noda stated that next year would be an important year as Indonesia chairs the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings and he expected Indonesia’s leadership. In this connection, Prime Minister Noda also stated his idea to proactively cooperate with Indonesia. In addition, Prime Minister Noda stated that he highly appreciated the role which President Yudhoyono played in ASEAN as its chair.

(2) In response, Coordinating Minister Hatta stated that as mentioned, Indonesia will chair the APEC meetings next year and would like to make every possible effort for the success of the APEC meetings. Coordinating Minister Hatta also stated that it would be important for participants to discuss what each country and/or region regards as important. Furthermore, Coordinating Minister Hatta stated that they have developed the master plan of ASEAN connectivity in which he appreciated the roles of Japan, and would like to strengthen the relationship with Japan in this field as well.

(3) In addition, both sides exchanged opinions on the regional situations including the South China Sea and shared views on enhancing close coordination toward (EAS) to be held in November this year.