Japan Seeks U.S. Understanding of East Asian Community Idea

Singapore, Nov 11 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Economy, Trade and
Industry Minister Masayuki Naoshima sought Wednesday U.S. understanding of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's East Asian community initiative.

In his meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Naoshima
said Japan is considering creating an open community and initially will
pursue economic integration. The Japan-U.S. security alliance will serve as
a basis for the community, he added.
Naoshima, here for a ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific
Economic Cooperation forum, also met with World Trader Organization
Director-General Pascal Lamy.
Naoshima and Lamy agreed to encourage WTO member economies to
conclude the Doha round of trade liberalization talks by the end of 2010.