Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien said Tuesday his nation plans to allow visa-free entry for Japanese travelers and business officials.

Nien, in a meeting with Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi, said the aim is to promote Japanese tourism and investment in Vietnam and that his country is also interested in a free trade agreement to boost economic ties, according to Japanese officials.

Kawaguchi, for her part, urged Vietnam to assist Japan in its efforts to resolve security issues concerning North Korea. Vietnam has diplomatic ties with North Korea.

The meeting was the first official event for a summit between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Thursday and Friday.

Vietnam plans to offer 15-day visa-free entry for Japanese, and is now arranging the details, the Japanese officials said.

On Vietnam seeking an FTA with Japan, Kawaguchi told Nien that Japan wants to deepen discussion, with the bilateral investment pact serving as a basis, the officials said.

A Japanese official indicated it may be too early to talk about an FTA because Vietnam has yet to enter the World Trade Organization.

Among the 10-member ASEAN, Japan has concluded an FTA only with Singapore but will agree with Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines to launch formal FTA negotiations during the Japan-ASEAN summit.

Kawaguchi called for Vietnamese assistance in Japan's efforts to seek a comprehensive resolution to North Korea's missile and nuclear development as well as the issue of Japanese citizens the North abducted decades ago.

Warning from Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (Kyodo) Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who will make his international debut in Tokyo this week, warned Japan on Tuesday against the dangers of sending troops to Iraq.

"You are going into a situation where you don't know what is going to happen," he said in an interview with Japanese reporters ahead of his trip to Tokyo to attend a two-day summit of the leaders of Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

"The situation in Iraq at the moment is not very predictable," Abdullah said. "The situation is so volatile. Opposition to the U.S. presence in Iraq is very strong . . . it's a pity that the war has been won but not the peace."

Abdullah, who took over the country's helm from Mahathir Mohamad just five weeks ago, also shared the same tone as his predecessor in calling for a multilateral resolution to the Iraq issue.

Protest over Myanmar

The Associated Press

Prodemocracy demonstrators staged a protest Tuesday in Tokyo against the participation of the head of Myanmar's military regime in a summit this week of Southeast Asian leaders.

About 20 activists, mostly Myanmar nationals living in Tokyo, rallied outside the Foreign Ministry building to protest the planned participation of Gen. Khin Nyunt, the prime minister of Myanmar's military regime, in the Japan-ASEAN summit.