Malaysia to cooperate with Japan economic mission

Asian Economic News, June 7, 1999

TOKYO, June 3 Kyodo

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad agreed Thursday to cooperate with a Japanese economic mission which will visit East Asian nations between August and September to seek ways to help revitalize the region's economies, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.

During a 20-minute meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, Mahathir promised to assist the business mission, expressing hope it will learn from Malaysia's experiences in the prolonged Asian financial crisis, the official told reporters.

Obuchi asked for Mahathir's help when the Japanese mission goes to Malaysia, the official said.

Mahathir is visiting Japan to attend a private forum on the future of Asia.

The official said the two leaders also exchanged views over the Indonesian general election next week, with Obuchi reiterating Japan's commitment to helping Jakarta proceed with the poll smoothly, the official said.

Malaysia told Obuchi it is up to the people of Indonesia to decide their fate.

Obuchi told Mahathir that Tokyo dispatched 20 election monitors Thursday, on top of its earlier assistance which included grants of 30.97 million dollars, the official said.