ID :
117578
Mon, 04/19/2010 - 22:33
Auther :

Japan to offer support to Malaysia on environment, energy+



TOKYO, April 19 Kyodo -
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and his Malaysian counterpart Najib
Abdul Razak agreed Monday that Japan will provide technological and capacity
building assistance to Malaysia in the area of environmental protection as well
as energy saving.
In signing a joint initiative on the environment and energy, which includes
about 20 specific programs, Japan will take advantage of its related
technologies and help Malaysia establish recycling systems, develop bioethanol
and other renewable resources, and conserve biodiversity.
In their talks at the premier's office in Tokyo, the two leaders also agreed to
promote regional integration in Asia through the concept of an East Asian
community advocated by the Japanese leader and the ASEAN Community.
Hatoyama told a joint press conference after their meeting, ''We confirmed we
would promote regional cooperation toward realization of the concept of an East
Asian community.''
He added that he told Najib the Japan-U.S. alliance will play an important role
in his envisioned regional grouping.
The Japanese premier also expressed his support for the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations' efforts toward creating the ASEAN Community by 2015.
On the economic front, Najib, who concurrently serves as finance minister, said
at the same press conference that he conveyed his hopes to Hatoyama that
Japanese companies will boost their investment in the Malaysian market and that
bilateral trade will rebound from the recent dip caused by the global economic
slump.
Calling Monday's bilateral meeting ''very productive and very useful,'' the
Malaysian leader said that he invited Hatoyama to visit Malaysia and that
Hatoyama responded he would think about it ''after July.''
Japan is slated to have an election for the House of Councillors most likely on
July 11.
Najib last visited Japan in April 2009.
==Kyodo
2010-04-19 23:12:09

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