Japan agrees with China, others to work to address financial crisis

BEIJING, Oct. 24 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso agreed with his South Korean, Chinese and
German counterparts in separate bilateral meetings on Friday to collaborate in
addressing the global financial upheaval ahead of the Group of 20 summit on the
crisis hosted by Washington next month, Japanese officials said.
On the sidelines of a meeting of Asian and European leaders in Beijing, Aso
proposed to South Korean President Lee Myung Bak and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
a plan to hold a tripartite summit in Japan later this year and received their
endorsements, said the Japanese officials who briefed reporters on the meeting.
The three countries had planned such a meeting in Japan in September but its
realization has been delayed due to the abrupt resignation of Aso's predecessor
Yasuo Fukuda that month.
Lee basically agreed to Japan's proposal for holding the trilateral summit in
Fukuoka in December, according to South Korean presidential spokesman Lee Dong
Kwan.
Aso separately exchanged notes on the global financial crisis with South
Korean, Chinese and German leaders and agreed on the need to coordinate closely
ahead of the economic summit of the world's major nations to be hosted by U.S.
President George W. Bush in Washington on Nov. 15.
During talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Aso was quoted as telling Hu,
''If the U.S.-originated financial crisis continues, it will undermine the
national interests of both Japan and China, which are closely linked to the
U.S. economy.''
''Considering the ongoing situation, the related countries should respond
firmly to stabilize financial system,'' Aso added.
During the talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Aso and Merkel shared
the view that participants in the G-20 summit should take coordinated actions
and refrain from devising policies that only take into account the interests of
only their own country.
Aso told reporters that he and the Chinese leaders agreed that efforts should
be made to maintain the U.S. dollar-centered financial system, given that a
plunge or collapse of the pivotal currency do not serve the two countries'
national interests.
''Japan and China at least for now do not want the dollar's rapid plunge nor
the collapse of the dollar-based system,'' Aso said, adding, ''Both countries
should make efforts to maintain the system and nobody wants a rapid change.''
Aso said he also touched on growing concern among the Japanese public about
food products exported by China and called on the Chinese leaders to ensure
safety.
The Japanese and Chinese leaders also agreed to maintain frequent and timely
communications using such means as a telephone hotline, another Japanese
official said.
The idea of a hotline was advanced by Aso, citing the need to build a
relationship of trust during his talks with Hu and Wen.
In his talks with Wen, Aso exchanged documents for ratification of a treaty of
cooperation in criminal justice that will allow law-enforcement authorities of
both nations to exchange information without going through formal diplomatic
channels. The treaty will come into effect on Nov. 23, according to the
Japanese Foreign Ministry.
On denuclearizing North Korea, the leaders from Japan, China and South Korea
agreed to cooperate on the matter, while Aso sought the two countries'
cooperation in resolving the issue of Pyongyang's abduction of Japanese
nationals, the Japanese officials said.
President Lee expressed his support for Japan's position by telling Aso,
''North Korea should address the inhumane issue of the abduction cases,'' the
Japanese official who briefed reporters on the meeting said.
In his meeting with Lee, Aso agreed to strengthen relations through increased
contacts between leaders, the Japanese official said.
The South Korean president extended an invitation to Aso to visit his country
and Aso said he would like to make a visit possibly by the end of this year if
circumstances permit, according to presidential spokesman Lee.
The Japan-South Korea bilateral talks did not cover the territorial dispute
that has chilled relations in the past several months, the official said. The
dispute concerns two South Korean-administered uninhabited islets, also claimed
by Japan, in the Sea of Japan, called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South
Korea.
Lee also did not take up the often thorny issue of perception about the history
of two countries that has also overshadowed the bilateral relationship, the
official said.
This was first time for Aso to hold bilateral talks with the leaders of South
Korea, China and Germany after he became prime minister in September.
Aso also attended a reception for the 30th anniversary of the Japan-China
treaty of peace and friendship at the Great Hall of the People.
Aso, accompanied by his wife Chikako, will return to Tokyo on Saturday night.
==Kyodo