Japan FM to observe Indonesia's West Sumatra quake areas

Japan's Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said on Tuesday that he will visit Indonesia's West Sumatra quake areas on Wednesday to directly observe development there.

"Tomorrow I will go to the earthquake hit areas to learn (the effectiveness) of concrete aids that we have provided," Okada told the press after a meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda.

He said that after massive earthquake hit Japan's Kobe several years ago, Japan developed a disaster preventing system. According to him, based on the experience, Japan could help quake-risk countries in managing such crisis.

Okada also said that Japan has provided aids that really need by survivors, namely medical treatment and food.

In the same occasion, Wirajuda said that Indonesian government is very thankful of Japanese help in the disaster.

"We are very thankful of Japanese aids in form delivery of rescue team, Japanese task force and non-governmental organizations in the emergency response," said Wirajuda.

A 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit West Sumatra province, claiming more than 800 lives and triggered billion rupiah loss.

Source:Xinhua