TMCnet News
Kyodo news summary -7-+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TOKYO, April 8_(Kyodo) _ ---------- ASEM ministers meet, eye oil prices, global imbalance, IMF reform VIENNA - Finance ministers from Asia and Europe began a two-day meeting here Saturday, looking into ways to reduce risks to the world economy, such as high and volatile energy prices, the global economic imbalance and a possible avian flu pandemic. The ministers attending the Asia-Europe Meeting are also considering reforming the International Monetary Fund, reflecting growing calls to offer emerging economies -- especially those in Asia -- greater representation by reviewing the quota system the IMF uses for allotting voting power, Japanese and European officials said. ---------- Chief Japan, N. Korea negotiators meet for 1st time in 5 months TOKYO - Kenichi Sasae, the Japanese Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau chief, on Saturday urged North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan in Tokyo to make efforts to solve the abduction issue involving Japanese citizens and return to the six-party talks over Pyongyang's nuclear programs. After their two-hour meeting in a hotel, Sasae told reporters, "We told the North Korean side our principle stance (on these issues), while they told us theirs," suggesting Kim did not respond positively. |