Japan will not ask China or South Korea to hold summits on the sidelines of an Asia-Europe Meeting next month in Finland, a government source said Friday.
With China and South Korea having toughened their attitudes after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Aug. 15 visit to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine, Japan plans to set its sights on meetings between their leaders and Koizumi's successor, who will be elected in late September, they said.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun are scheduled to attend the Sept. 10-11 ASEM summit in Helsinki.
ASEM summits are held every two years in different locations in Asia and Europe.
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