SBY's Tears Can be Meaningful to Japan

TOKYO, KOMPAS.com - Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Yutaka Banno said the government and Japanese people really appreciated Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to a region devastated by recent earthquake and tsunami, Miyagi prefecture.

"The president visited Kawanuma, one of the most devastated districts after the recent earthquake and tsunami struck Japan. He and the first lady could not hold their tears seeing the disasters impact to the region. We are touched very deeply by their responses," stated Yutaka Banno as he welcomed participants of Japanese - Indonesian student exchange JENESYS at Japanese Foreign Ministry office in Tokyo on Friday.

The common disasters Indonesia and Japan went through glued relation between the two countries. SBY's visit and other bilateral cooperations including JENESYS programs are expected to foster it.

"Bilateral cooperations such as funding programs to projects in Indonesia as well as Indonesia's contribution to Japan will be increased continually," said the vice foreign minister. Neli Triana