Southeast Asian leaders arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday to participate in a two-day summit with Japan that will focus on trade and security.

Thursday's gathering will be the first such meeting to be held outside the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and ASEAN leaders are expected to ink Friday a joint declaration featuring the creation of an East Asian Community and a joint activity plan, which includes development projects in the Mekong River area.

The East Asian Community, proposed by Koizumi in 2002, is aimed at promoting closer cooperation among ASEAN, Japan, China, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia.

Japan is also expected to sign the 1976 Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, a nonaggression pact, amid strong entreaties from ASEAN members.

Another highlight of the summit should be Japan's anticipated agreements with Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines to launch government-level negotiations on bilateral free-trade agreements, formally dubbed Economic Partnership Agreements.

Japan has just resumed FTA talks with Mexico after failing to reach an agreement in October amid farm trade disagreements.

Koizumi and Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri will jointly chair the Japan-ASEAN summit. It will be attended by the leaders of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Loans for Indonesia

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi pledged Wednesday to offer some 100 billion yen in loans to Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri to help the nation build up its infrastructure.

"It is important for Japan and ASEAN that Indonesia achieves a stable development," Koizumi said in a meeting with Megawati, according to a Japanese official who briefed reporters.

Koizumi voiced hope that Indonesia will use the loans to build electricity facilities, ports and other basic infrastructure needs. Megawati expressed gratitude for the aid.

The prime minister explained Japan's approval Tuesday of a Self-Defense Forces dispatch to Iraq. He stressed that the SDF will be involved in rebuilding the nation, and that the dispatch is not a military maneuver.

Megawati said Indonesia has dispatched military forces overseas 27 times in the past for humanitarian purposes, though it has not sent troops to Iraq.

"Our past assistance is offered within the framework of the United Nations," Megawati said. "If the situation in Iraq worsens, it will (negatively) affect neighboring nations."

In a separate meeting, Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai told Koizumi that Vietnam plans to allow visa-free entry for Japanese tourists and businesspeople beginning Jan. 1.

Vietnam plans to offer 15-day visa-free entry for Japanese in a bid to boost tourism and investment, Khai said, according to a Japanese official.

Training funds in works

Japan plans to offer $1.5 billion over the next three years to help members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations train officials in fields such as education and industry, Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said Wednesday.

Kawaguchi unveiled the plan during a meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, a Japanese official said.

Kawaguchi also said that Japan will promote exchange programs with ASEAN countries involving about 40,000 people, including students.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will formally announce these plans during the Japan-ASEAN summit, which begins Thursday, the official said.

Mekong River move Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi on Wednesday said that Japan is ready to broaden its economic cooperation with regard to the development of the Mekong River region, the ministry said.

During a meeting with visiting Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong, Kawaguchi said Japan considers cooperation in the Mekong River Basin important as it will contribute to the development of the less-developed new members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Hor Nam Hong is in Tokyo to attend the two-day Japan-ASEAN summit, which begins Thursday.

ASEAN's older members are Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, while the newer members are Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Kawaguchi told Hor Nam Hong that Japan plans to cooperate in the development of the Mekong region in accordance with the promotion of trade and investment. Hor Nam Hong reportedly expressed gratitude.

According to a draft of the ASEAN-Japan Plan of Action that will be adopted at the summit, Japan plans to provide about $1.5 billion in fresh financial assistance to develop the Mekong region over the next three years.

Meanwhile, Hor Nam Hong asked Kawaguchi to support Cambodia's bid to become a nonpermanent member of the U.N. Security Council in 2005, while expressing support for Japan's attempt to secure a permanent seat on the council.

Kawaguchi welcomed Cambodia's support, telling Hor Nam Hong that Tokyo will consider backing Cambodian efforts to get a seat.