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.