Indonesia, Japan enter 2008 with heart-to-heart diplomacy

"The two countries are entering the 50th year of their relations and agreed to start a new episode by intensifying heart-to-heart relations," Anwar said here on Thursday.
The ambassador made the remark during a celebration of 50 years of Indonesi-Japan bilateral relations in 2008. The two countries established diplomatic relations in January 1958, which came into effect in April 1958.
The one-time Finance Minister said that Indonesia and Japan deemed it necessary to enhance their relations by the people-to-people contact approach.
"Such direct relations which will touch the hearts and feelings of the two nations will materialize through the culture. The feeling of equality could be revived through the culture," Anwar said.
He also said that such relations which rely only on economic and political activities would not be eternal..