Japan to Invite ASEAN Leaders

The first day of Japan-ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit, which is being held in Tokyo. Japan hosts the special meeting with ASEAN, which is different from the annual ASEAN+3(South Korea, China, and Japan) summit, so as to expand its regional influence in competing with China, overseas reporters said. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President Megawati of Indonesia, who co-chair the summit, are at the center.