Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Wednesday he would meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to get a final answer about the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) during his trip to Japan later this month.

"I will ask the definite answer about EPA from the Japanese prime minister during my visit," Susilo was quoted by the national Antara news agency as saying.

Susilo is slated to leave for Japan on Nov. 26 at the invitation of Japanese Emperor Akihito.

Under the leadership of Junichiro Koizumi, Japan agreed to establish EPA with Indonesia and boost bilateral cooperation in energy, trade and investment, Susilo said during his visit to the Juanda Airport in Surabaya.

Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said earlier the two countries have not reached final agreement on the EPA draft and several articles remained contentious.

Presidential spokesman Dino Pati Djalal said the president had called for the speeding up of the ongoing EPA so that it could be signed this year.

EPA was very important to intensify bilateral economic relations between the two countries, Dino said.

Source: Xinhua