Obuchi to attend ASEAN summit

Obuchi to attend ASEAN summit

TOKYO (Reuters): Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit meeting in Hanoi on Dec.15 through Dec. 16, which includes a Japan-ASEAN summit on the Dec. 16, a senior Foreign Ministry official said on Monday.

Obuchi is expected to give a policy speech on the future relationship between Japan and ASEAN at the summit, before meeting separately with leaders of ASEAN, South Korea and possibly China, later in the day.

At the summit meetings, Japan will express its continued support for Asia to overcome its economic crisis, reiterating Tokyo's recent decision to set aside one trillion yen (US$8.33 billion) for financial support for Asia, he said.

It will discuss the $30 billion "Miyazawa Initiative" for Asian aid announced by Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa and $44 billion in ongoing emergency aid for Asia, the official said.