Obuchi to pledge continued support at ASEAN meeting

Obuchi to pledge continued support at ASEAN meeting

TOKYO (AFP): Japan's Premier Keizo Obuchi will pledge his
support for Asia and promise to revive his nation's economy at a
summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next week, a
report said Tuesday.

When he meets with ASEAN leaders in Hanoi, Obuchi will vow to
"promote dialogue and cooperation toward the 21st century," the
Nihon Keizai Shimbun said.

Obuchi will also offer to help the Asian nations tackle
problems with environment, poverty, terrorism and refugees, the
daily said.

The Japanese premier is to assure the region's leaders that
Tokyo will pull itself out of recession and bring growth next
year. That comes despite the warnings of economists here who say
a recovery may not come for at least another two years.

Japan's recession has been blamed for delaying Asian
countries' own recovery from their financial crisis.

Obuchi is also to call on ASEAN members to speed up their
application for both Japan's US$30 billion rescue package for the
region and U.S.-Japan financial assistance measures worth $5
billion, the daily said.

The Japanese prime minister is scheduled to leave Tokyo for
Hanoi on Tuesday next week and hold a meeting with ASEAN leaders
in Hanoi on Dec. 16, and meet Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong
on Dec. 17.

On the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting, Obuchi will hold talks
with China's vice president Hu Jintao and South Korean President
Kim Dae-jung separately, government officials said.

The Japanese premier is to visit Ho Chi Minh City before
returning to Tokyo on December 18, the officials said.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The group has invited leaders from China, Japan and South
Korea for the second year in a row to meet with ASEAN leaders
after the annual summit.