Speeches and Statements by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi



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(Provisional Translation)

Joint Announcement by the Prime Minister of Japan and the President of the Republic of Indonesia on the Possibility of the Economic Partnership Agreement between Japan and Indonesia

Tokyo, June 24, 2003

On June 24, 2003 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan and President Megawati Soekarnoputri of the Republic of Indonesia have decided to task the officials from the two Governments to preliminarily explore the possibility of a bilateral economic partnership agreement (EPA) between Japan and Indonesia.

The officials both from Japan and Indonesia will discuss the following issues:

1. The two leaders reiterated the importance of strengthening cooperation between Japan and Indonesia, under the framework for cooperation, namely, "acting together and advancing together" as "sincere and open partners." They also reiterated their intention to further strengthen cooperation aimed at achieving stability and development of the region through bilateral, regional, and international frameworks such as the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) +3, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Indonesia's assumption of the chair of ASEAN in July 2003 and the Japan-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in Japan in December 2003 will further enhance the Japan-ASEAN cooperative relationship.

a. the architecture- including the scope- of a possible EPA. In discussing the scope of the EPA, the officials would examine both areas of liberalization of trade in goods and services and of investment, as well as bilateral cooperation in other areas;

b. the requirement for such an EPA would have to meet if it is to be consistent with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules;

c. the flexibility which might be required for either country to take into account the sensitive areas and other difficulties including the possible exclusion of sensitive items in such areas as agriculture, forestry and fishery and other sectors; and

d. the strategic and economic benefits that both Japan and Indonesia could derive from the establishment of such an EPA.

The officials would meet alternately in Japan and Indonesia. The host country would provide the secretariat to support the meetings.

1.	The two leaders reiterated the importance of strengthening cooperation between Japan and Indonesia, under the framework for cooperation, namely, "acting together and advancing together" as "sincere and open partners." They also reiterated their intention to further strengthen cooperation aimed at achieving stability and development of the region through bilateral, regional, and international frameworks such as the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) +3, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Indonesia's assumption of the chair of ASEAN in July 2003 and the Japan-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in Japan in December 2003 will further enhance the Japan-ASEAN cooperative relationship.
a.	the architecture- including the scope- of a possible EPA. In discussing the scope of the EPA, the officials would examine both areas of liberalization of trade in goods and services and of investment, as well as bilateral cooperation in other areas;
b.	the requirement for such an EPA would have to meet if it is to be consistent with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules;
c.	the flexibility which might be required for either country to take into account the sensitive areas and other difficulties including the possible exclusion of sensitive items in such areas as agriculture, forestry and fishery and other sectors; and
d.	the strategic and economic benefits that both Japan and Indonesia could derive from the establishment of such an EPA.