Japan, Indonesia to hold 6th round of free trade talks in Tokyo
International Herald Tribune
Japan, Indonesia to hold 6th round of free trade talks in Tokyo
The Associated Press
6 October 2006
TOKYO. Japan and Indonesia will hold a sixth round of talks on a possible free trade agreement next week and work on a draft of the pact, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Friday.
The latest round of negotiations will take place in Tokyo from Oct. 10-13, a ministry statement said.
The previous round was held in Indonesia in August.
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Mitoji Yabunaka was expected to join the talks on the Japanese side, the statement said.
It said the Indonesian team will likely include Ambassador Soemadi Djoko Moerdjono Brotodiningrat.
The two sides are set to work on a draft agreement during the talks, and discuss matters related to two-way trade in goods and services, investment and cooperation, the statement said.
Tokyo has been stepping up efforts to make free trade deals in an effort to keep its economy afloat and to compete with China, which is moving ahead in forming regional trade pacts.
Japan already has free trade deals with Singapore, Mexico and Malaysia, and recently concluded talks with Chile. An agreement has also been signed with the Philippines, and is awaiting lawmakers’ approval in both countries.
