UK: LONDON: JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER HASHIMOTO MEETS TONY BLAIR

(2 Apr 1998) Natural Sound

Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto on Thursday urged European nations to step up their commitment to resolve the current financial crisis in Asia.

Hashimoto's remarks came during a meeting with his British counterpart Tony Blair at Ten Downing Street in London.

The Japanese leader is in the British capital to attend the second Asia Europe meeting (ASEM II).

It was a busy day at Ten Downing Street.

The British Prime Minister's residence was the focus of several bilateral meetings in the hours before the opening of the second Asia Europe meeting (ASEM II).

Among the Asian leaders who visited Prime Minister Tony Blair were Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.

The Japanese leader urged the European nations to resolve the current economic crisis in Asia.

He told Blair he hoped European countries would tackle the issue as their own problem.

Hashimoto also expressed interest in granting ASEM membership to India, Pakistan, Australia and New Zealand.

South Korean President Kim Dae Jung also paid a visit to the British Prime Minister.

The Korean leader is on his first trip abroad since being inaugurated in February.

Kim has tried to raise awareness of his country's financial troubles.

South Korea was forced to accept a record 58 (b) billion I-M-F bailout in November, after denying until nearly the last minute that its economy was in trouble.

Since then, six of the nation's top 50 conglomerates have failed, bankruptcies of smaller firms are increasing rapidly and a jobless rate of about 6 per cent is the highest in the nation since early 1986.

The region's financial crisis is expected to be the main issue at this year's ASEM gathering.

Blair will chair the second ASEM talks to be held in London on Friday and Saturday.

Attending the ASEM talks are ten Asian nations and 15 European nations plus the European Commission.

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