Japan`s Aso to Attend ASEM Summit on Oct. 24-25

Tokyo, Oct. 6 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is set to attend a summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting, or ASEM, forum to be held in Beijing on Oct. 24-25, government sources said Monday.

Aso's visit to Beijing for the ASEM summit had been considered
difficult due to political circumstances in Japan. Aso may dissolve the
House of Representatives, the powerful lower chamber of the Diet, later this
month for a snap election.
However, the government now believes that the prime minister should
take part in the meeting at a time when financial system woes are spreading
across the globe, the sources said.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said at a press conference
Monday that economic issues will likely be a major agenda item at the coming
ASEM meeting.
Countries participating in the meeting expect Japan to take the
initiative in the global effort to solve the financial problem, Kawamura
said.
On the sidelines of the ASEM summit, Aso is expected to hold talks
with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, according to the
government sources.
Aso and the Chinese leaders are expected to confirm the two
countries' intention to strengthen their mutually beneficial strategic
relationship, the sources said.
Aso will likely urge Beijing to step up efforts to solve a series
of food safety problems involving Chinese products, the sources said.