Chinese PM to visit ASEAN summit

Chinese PM to visit ASEAN summit

BEIJING (AFP): Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji will attend an ASEAN
summit in Singapore later this month and hold a trilateral
meeting with the leaders of Japan and South Korea, officials said
on Thursday.

"He will also hold an informal trilateral meeting with leaders
of Japan and South Korea," foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao
said.

China will seek to exchange views on development in East Asia
and work for closer cooperation in the region, he said.

ASEAN plus three holds formal summits every two years, with an
"informal summit" like this year's event alternated in.

Besides the trilateral meeting with Japan's Yoshiro Mori and
South Korea's Kim Dae-Jung, Zhu was also expected to hold one-on-
ones with other ASEAN leaders, officials of the meeting in
Singapore said.