Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi will propose establishing a comprehensive economic alliance, including a free-trade agreement, with Southeast Asian nations during his visit to the region in January, a report said yesterday.
Koizumi, who will begin his tour of members states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Jan. 9, will propose that Tokyo draw up a basic plan to set up an alliance within five to 10 years, the mass-circulation Yomiuri newspaper said.
The move is apparently meant to bolster Japan's standing in the region following the signing of a free trade agreement between ASEAN and China in November, the newspaper said. The daily said that Japan would begin drafting an action plan at the end of January. Talks between Japan and ASEAN would start shortly afterward.
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