Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is scheduled to visit Indonesia on August 19-21, 2007 for three main purposes, a Japanese official here said.

"The main agenda of PM Abe`s visit is to strengthen strategic cooperation between Indonesia and Japan, sign an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and discuss cooperation in the environment and energy fields," Japanese Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia Satoru Satoh said here on Tuesday.

Abe`s visit would be to reciprocate Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s visit to Japan in November 2006.

"Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be accompnnied by 150 top Japanese business executives to open fields of economic cooperation between the two nations," he said.

Satoh said the Japanese and Indonesia business forum would be organized and coordinated by the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

"The signing of the EPA is a new step in the relations between Indonesia and Japan, because Japan previously signed EPA agreements with seven other countries," he said.

Under the EPA, it was expected that Indonesian exports to Japan and those from Japan to Indonesia would in stages be freed from 90 percent duties and excise levies, he said.

The phased reduction of duties would be carried out over a period of 10 years as of the signing of the EPA, Satoh said.

In dicussions on cooperation in the environment filed, Abe would reaffirm his commitment to Indonesia which will host an international conference on climate change in Bali.

Japan and Indonesia will also sign a cooperation agreement on new projects in the energy sector, including development of the latest technology in the exploration of new energy sources, Satoh said.

The Japanese leader`s entourage would also include 51 top journalists, including from Kyodo News Agency and leading daily newspapers such as Asahi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Mainichi, Sankei Shimbun, as well as from electronic media such as NHK and Fuji Television. (*)

Antara news, August 14, 2007