Aso to attend global summit on financial crisis+

TOKYO, Oct. 20 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said Monday he plans to attend a summit in the
United States of the Group of Eight powers and other major economies on the
global financial crisis.
Asked by reporters if his participation in the summit will affect the timing of
the possible dissolution of the House of Representatives, Aso said, ''I will
definitely go to this financial summit regardless of whether (the lower house)
is dissolved or not.''
Senior lawmakers of Aso's Liberal Democratic Party have expressed the view that
Aso is likely to dissolve the lower house in the near future and call a general
election.
Aso said all countries need to cooperate to maintain the financial system
because its failure will have a significant effect on the real economy.
U.S. President George W. Bush said Saturday he will convene a global summit to
combat the worldwide financial crisis after the Nov. 4 U.S. presidential
election.
Vice Finance Minister Kazuyuki Sugimoto said at a press conference that the
upcoming summit meeting is expected to discuss ways to prevent a recurrence of
the credit crisis, bolster the financial system and avert a global recession.
''This year, Japan serves as the G-8 chair and we have experience of overcoming
our own financial crisis,'' Sugimoto said. ''We'd like to show leadership in
allaying financial unease and making the summit a success.''
==Kyodo