Japan giving 300-million-dollar climate loan to Indonesia

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

TOYAKO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda on Wednesday announced a loan to Indonesia of 300 million dollars in the first batch of aid under Tokyo's new initiative on fighting climate change.

Fukuda met with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the Japanese northern resort of Toyako on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit.

Fukuda "highly praised" Indonesia's leadership at a UN-led conference in Bali in December that set a deadline of the end of 2009 to reach a new climate change treaty, a Japanese foreign ministry statement said.

"The prime minister informed the president of Japan's decision to extend a loan of 300 million dollars, the first batch under the Cool Earth Partnership programme," it said.

The Japanese...