Japan, Indonesia wrap up free trade negotiations
The Associated Press | Oct 13, 2006
Japan, Indonesia wrap up free trade negotiations
Tokyo — Japan and Indonesia wrapped up four days of negotiations toward a possible free trade agreement, an official said Friday.
The two countries concluded the round of talks in Tokyo and made progress in areas including goods and services and investment rules, said Foreign Ministry official Yuichi Watanabe.
Negotiations are still needed in other areas such as energy, Watanabe said.
Tokyo and Jakarta plan to include in the agreement a deal that Indonesia will ensure a stable energy supply to Japan when the two countries reach an outline of a bilateral free trade agreement late November, Kyodo News agency reported, citing unidentified Japanese officials.
Watanabe said that he could not confirm most of the report, but that the two countries are looking into ways to ensure a stable supply of energy from Indonesia.
He said Japan relies on Indonesia for about one-third of its natural gas supply.
The two countries began negotiations for a free trade agreement in July 2005.
Officials say that the two countries hope to reach an agreement in principle in November, when Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected to visit Japan for talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The date for Yudhoyono’s visit has not yet been revealed.
