Politics

00:28, 21.11.2007 | APR

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met with the leaders of China and South Korea on Tuesday on the sidelines of the ASEAN gatherings in Singapore.

North Korea's nuclear and abductions issues were on the meeting's agenda.
The talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun mark the first top-level dialogue among the 3 nations since Mr Fukuda took office.
At the start of the talks, Mr Fukuda said it is extremely important for the 3 countries to cooperate on common issues for the sake of peace and prosperity throughout East Asia.
He said he hopes for a frank exchange of opinions on North Korea and other international issues.
Mr Fukuda is thought to have said that North Korea needs to proceed steadily with efforts to abandon its nuclear program.
He was to seek support from China and South Korea for Japan's efforts to hold working-group talks with North Korea to resolve the issue of the North's abductions of Japanese nationals.
Meanwhile, Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura met with Myanmar's Foreign Minister Nyan Win on Tuesday morning and urged the country to promote democracy.
Mr Koumura also asked Myanmar to hand over a video camera and other belongings of Japanese journalist Kenji Nagai, who was shot and killed during the military crackdown on pro-democracy protests in late September.