JAPAN KEEN TO COOPERATE IN ASSISTING MALAYSIA TO REALISE DEVELOPED NATION VISION

KUALA LUMPUR, April 26 (Bernama) -- Japan would like to cooperate as much as
possible with Malaysia in assisting this country to realise its Vision 2020 to
be fully developed nation as well becoming a high income country, its outgoing
Ambassador to Malaysia Masahiko Horie said Tuesday.

Horie said that this would be especially in the area of environment and
energy where Japanese companies would try to assist by undertaking businesses in
these sectors and adding that education was another sector of cooperation.

He said that currently there were many contracts and agreements going on
between Japanese and Malaysian companies in the area of new renewable energy and
biofuel.

Horie said Japan was also supporting efforts to make Putrajaya and Cyberjaya
more environmental friendly and reducing Carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, which is
the chief greenhouse gas that results from human activities and causes global
warming and climate change.

"Discussions are going on with the stakeholders of Putrajaya and Japanese
companies through this NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development
Organization) and with the Japanese METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry) and the Japanese government. So they are discussing how to make
Putrajaya more environmetally soft and emission of CO2 lower than today," he
said in a farewell press conference at his residence, here.

On Education, Horie said the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of
Technology (MJIIT) which will open its doors in September this year, was a
significant culmination of the Look East Policy, mooted by Dr Mahathir
Mohamad.

He said out of some 250 teaching staff of the MJIIT which is to be based in
Kuala Lumpur, about 41 will be from Japan.

The ambassador said that one professor from Japan was already here and
another six would be coming later.

Horie said that CEOs of Japanese companies would be giving leadership and
other lectures to the students here and the students would also be given the
opportunity to visit Japanese manufacturing plants and companies to better
learn the system there.

Describing the bilateral relations as solid in many fields, he said that the
Look East Policy had laid a very strong bond between the two countries.

Horie, who is leaving for Japan on April 28 after serving for three years
and seven months, said the visit by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to
Japan in April last year was very meaningful as both Najib and his Japanese
counterpart had jointly presented the Japan-Malaysia Joint Leaders Statement,
"Enhanced Partnership for a new Frontier", covering all aspects of bilateral
issues.

Horie, who will assume the post of an advisor to Japanese Foreign Minister
upon returing to Japan, said that he would like the Japanese to learn from
Malaysia, because Malaysia was a country with a very open society, friendly and
very much internationalised.

"I have learnt a lot during my stay in Malaysia.Upon my return to Japan, it
will be my pleasure to tell the Japanese people to "Look West" and learn from
Malaysia," said Horie who wished he had a longer stay in Malaysia.

He said that for the last five years, Malaysia had become the most popular
country for the Japanese people such as pensioners and retired bussinessmen.

"I am confident that five years from now Malaysia will continue to be the
number one most popular country among our retirees. The people are so friendly.
I will be missing the whole of this country," he said.


On the triple disaster, he said the reconstruction and recovery process had
already started and the Japanese people were more united than before and were
confident they would able to overcome the difficulties they were facing now,
although it would take a longer time to recover fully.

Horie also said that he was really overwhelmed by the support and solidarity
shown by all segments of Malaysians in the aftermath of the devastating tragedy,
with many donations pouring in until now.

He said despite the ongoing problem, japan was a safe country to visit and
all measures were being taken to ensure the food, vegatables and fruits were
free from radioactive elements.

"I feel very proud of what I had achieved (during my tenure here). I am
looking forward to coming back to Malaysia when the opportunity arises so as to
contribute to its further development," said Horie who promised to continue to
promote Malaysia to the Japanese people.