Aso to meet S. Korean, Russian counterparts bilaterally at APEC

TOKYO, Nov. 11 Kyodo

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso will hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from South Korea, Russia, Australia, Malaysia and Vietnam next week on the sidelines of ministerial talks of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Busan, South Korea, Japanese Foreign Ministry officials said Friday.

Aso will meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki Moon Monday evening, followed by dinner together, to discuss agenda items for an upcoming Japan-South Korea summit as well as on how to improve bilateral relations that have been strained by the Japanese premier's visits to the war-related Yasukuni Shrine.

Aso is also scheduled to lunch with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, where they will discuss final arrangements for a visit to Japan by Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for Nov. 20, the officials said.

The Japanese and Russian ministers are also expected to discuss issues related to resolving the territorial dispute over a string of Russian-held islands off Hokkaido, and work toward concluding a World War II peace treaty.

During his three-day stay in Busan, Aso will also meet Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on Tuesday evening, as well as Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien, respectively, on Wednesday afternoon, the officials said.

On all occasions, it will be the first time for Aso to meet the counterparts since assuming the post of foreign minister Oct. 31.

APEC ministerial meetings will be held Tuesday and Wednesday. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun are set to meet next Friday on the opening day of the APEC forum leaders' meeting, also in Busan.

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