VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Deputy Minister of Japan Masahisa Sato visited Biak Numfor, Papua Province, on Monday, to strengthen cooperation with the Indonesian Government.

The Japanese official was pleased to be able to visit Biak Numfor District for the first time.

He said Biak is a special place for Japan, as some fallen Japanese soldiers had been buried there during World War II.

"I hope this working visit to Biak Numfor District would intensify bilateral ties with the Indonesian Government, in general, and with Papua Province as well as Biak Numfor, in particular," Sato stated.

Acting Biak Numfor Regent Herry Ario Naap greeted the Japanese deputy minister and expressed hope for closer bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Biak had helped return the remains of fallen Japanese soldiers, he noted.

He called for cooperation between Biak and Japan in the fields of education, aviation, fishery, and tourism, among others.

During the visit to Biak, Sato was accompanied by Director of second South East Asia Division Shingo Myamoto and Secretary of the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Isao Tezuka

Several diplomats of the Japanese embassy in Jakarta who were also part of the visit included Deputy Chief of Mission Keiichi Ono, First Secretary (economy) Daisuke Inoue, and Second Secretary (politics) Katnonori Tsunoda.

The Indonesian foreign ministry`s officials accompanying Sato were Diplomatic Security Director Teguh Wardoyo, Yosep Tutu, and Veronika Vonny, among others. (ANTARA)