Thursday, 1 August 2013

Malaysia, Japan set on second wave of Look East Policy

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Japan will continue the Look East Policy (LEP) - Second Wave which will be adjusted to suit the economic structure and priorities of both countries.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who received a visit from his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe today, said the LPE should be more progressive with better focus and more economic-oriented.

"We have agreed that after 30 years of successful collaboration on the LEP, the next phase needs to be tailored for the economic transformation of both countries."

Najib said both governments have pledged to encourage more partnerships between Malaysian and Japanese companies in various fields including green technology, key technical services and institutional support among others.

"We encourage both sides to develop more targeted programmes with specific outcome to attain our countries' objectives through investments, trade, Islamic finance, technology, infrastructure development and promotion of the halal industry.

"We welcome Prime Minister Abe's interest in Malaysia and we will continue with our investment-friendly policies to further stimulate private sector cooperation," said Najib.

Earlier, Najib and Abe witnessed the signing of two memorandum of understandings between 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JIBC) and another one with Toshiba Corporation.

Meanwhile, in a briefing to the media , the Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry International Press Division's Assistant Press Secretary Director Masaru Sato said the meeting between Najib and Abe involved a host of issues on bilateral collaboration.

Among issues discussed were Japan’s efforts to introduce Carbon-Ion therapy for treatment of cancer in local hospitals, making Malaysia one of the first countries outside Japan to use the ground-breaking technology for curing the terminal illness.

The Japanese defence agencies are also collaborating with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency to provide training to local enforcers on safety aspects concerning the seafaring operations.

Sato said the safety training, which began at the coast guard academy in Gebeng, Kuantan today, was part of the Japanese government's effort in promoting security within the region and strengthening its educational training capacity .

“This includes the South China Sea and the Malacca Straits, which are prime routes for the transportation of crude oil to Japan,” he said.

On territorial disputes involving the South China Sea, Sato said Abe expressed the importance of all countries involved to abide the international law.

He said Abe's visit was also focussed on revitalising Japan's economy.

Najib was also said to have expressed concern about North Korea, to which Abe had emphasised Japan's stance on holding a series of dialogues with their military-oriented neighbours on denuclearisation.

Sato said the Foreign Affairs Ministry was also in the midst hosting the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youth (JENESYS 2.0).

The student exchange programme, which involved some 30,000 participants from ASEAN countries, will bring some 900 Malaysian students into Japanese homes to experience Japanese cultural enrichment by next year.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe at the Press conference. NST pix by EffendyRashid
(Source: http://www.nst.com.my)

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