JP/5/SUMMIT

JP/5/SUMMIT

49 heads of states to attend Asia Africa 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.