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.