RI gives Japan US$2m for disaster relief effort

Indonesia has donated US$2 million (Rp 18 billion) to help Japan cope with the impacts of the recent earthquakes and tsunami, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa says.

The government may donate more aid to Japan later during the construction phase, Marty said in Jakarta on Wednesday night during a joint press conference with Japanese Deputy Foreign Minister Makiko Kikuta, antaranews.com reported.

Kikuta was in the country to attend the ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief in Manado, North Sulawesi Utara, and the Metropolitan Priority Area meeting in Jakarta.

Kikuta said the disaster would not affect bilateral relations between the two countries, including the strategic partnership such as Japan’s plan to provide loans for coal power plants and infrastructure in Indonesia .