49 heads of states to attend summit

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

The number of heads of state confirming their attendance at the Asia Africa Summit in Bandung rose to 49, after four more leaders registered for the conference.

The four new heads of state were from Uganda, Gambia, Vanuatu and Kenya, summit organizer Bali Moniaga said.

Among the 49 heads of state that have already confirmed their attendance at the summit to be held between April 23 and 24, were Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi; Hu Jintao, the Premier of the People's Republic of China; and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Moniaga said that economic powerhouses such as Japan and China would send large delegations to the summit. Most members would be businesspeople, who are expected to explore business opportunities with colleagues from other Asian and African countries.

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan had also expressed his intention to attend the summit, Moniaga said on Wednesday.

All the leaders will be transported to Bandung from Jakarta using eight Boeing 737s, Department of Foreign Affairs official Mangasi Sihombing said.

After signing the Asia Africa Summit 2005 Declaration, the heads of state are expected to follow the summit tradition that began in 1955 and walk from the Hotel Savoy Homann to the Merdeka building, where the summit is to be held.

Moniaga said 105 countries would be represented at the summit -- 52 from Africa and 53 from Asia.