Japan and Indonesia have agreed to begin talks on the possible export of Japan's Asagiri-class minesweepers after Tokyo lifted restrictions on arms sales. This was announced by the Ministry of Defense of Japan after talks between its head Shinjiro Koizumi and his Indonesian counterpart Shafri Shamsuddin.
"The ministers welcomed the progress of discussions within the working group they agreed to establish at their meeting in May on Japan's revised defense equipment and technology transfer system," the statement said.
The Indonesian minister, as noted in the message, "expressed his intention to cooperate in the field of defense equipment and technology, including the transfer of Asagiri-class minesweepers and other equipment." Japan and Indonesia have already signed a corresponding agreement, which is the basis for the transfer of such equipment.
