Japanese envoy meets maritime minister to discuss rapid train project

Jakarta, Aug 26 (Antara) - Special Envoy of Japanese Prime Minister Hiroto Izumi has met Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Rizal Ramli to discuss ways to improve cooperation between the two countries, including for implementing the Jakarta-Bandung rapid train project. "Izumi, the special adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has met us to discuss what can be done to improve cooperation between Japan and Indonesia. We also discussed about the prospects of building the fast train project between Jakarta and Bandung," the minister stated here, Wednesday. The Japanese delegation was accompanied by a team of representatives from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), and the Japanese Embassy in Indonesia. According to Ramli, the Jakarta-Bandung rapid train project is now being explored by Japan and China. Ramli reiterated that the ministry wants a fair, transparent, and open competition, so that Indonesia can benefit maximally. He explained that the Indonesians would be able to derive various benefits in terms of technology, security, finance, high local content, and operational management. "We will make this project tender as fair as possible. We will evaluate which proposal is most favorable for Indonesia," Ramli emphasized. Meanwhile, Izumi remarked that Japan is keen to work together with Indonesia by prioritizing the interests of the Indonesian people. "Japan would like to cooperate with Indonesia to meet the needs of the Indonesian people, and on completion, this project will be operated by Indonesians," he affirmed. Izumi hailed the principles of fairness, transparency, and openness in the implementation of the project. "We particularly welcome such principles, and we want to further strengthen the relations between Indonesia and Japan," he noted. In addition to discussing the Jakarta-Bandung rapid train project, Japan is also offering several cooperation programs in the maritime sector related to vessel maintenance and construction, as well as maritime security, among others.