REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TOKYO -- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is slated to deliver a general lecture on "Regional Security Architecture" at the Kensei Kinen Kaikan on Friday morning.
The lecture is 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 arrived at Haneda airport in Tokyo at around 7.15 p.m. local time to attend a meeting to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN cooperation.
The president will deliver the lecture at 10 a.m. local time or 8 am Western Indonesia Standard Time (WIB) before holding a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at 2 p.m. to discuss cooperation in the areas of the economy, regional security, natural disaster management and infrastructure.
Before leaving Jakarta for Tokyo on Thursday morning, President Yudhoyono underlined the improvement of economic cooperation between Indonesia and Japan.
"The cooperation with Japan in economic field is very important because the world's economy is experiencing new turbulence that is being felt by the emerging markets, including Indonesia," Yudhoyono said.
He explained that trade value between the two countries increases every year by 11 percent in average, and therefore the two heads of government would focus on efforts to enhance cooperation in the field of trade and investment.
"Investment is now the driving force of the economy when we experience export pressure," the president said.
Besides discussing investment and trade, Yudhoyono and Abe will also focus on infrastructure development, which is badly needed by Indonesia for Java and other islands.
Presidential Special Aide for International Affairs Teuku Faizasyah said the commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN cooperation would provide momentum for the two countries to decide on a vision for cooperation for long-term development.
"As the two countries have developed strategic cooperation, Japan and Indonesia will certainly benefit from the strengthening of the relations between ASEAN and Japan," he added.
President Yudhoyono is also scheduled to meet Japanese businessmen who are part of the Japan-Indonesia Association (Japinda).
The Japanese delegation at the meeting will be led by former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and the CEOs of leading Japanese companies, such as Mitsubishi, Marubeni, Toshiba, Sumitomo and Toyota.
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.
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