Aso Pledges Closer Ties With Asia If Elected Japanese PM
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent Tokyo, Japan (AHN) - Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso has formally declared his intention to run for the country's premiership and pledges to improve diplomatic ties with Asian countries. Japan will elect a new prime minister on September 20 to replace Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi who is set to retire next month. Earlier, two other candidates, Finance Minister Sadakazu Tanigaki and Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, were the first to throw themselves in the election arena. Abe is the favorite among the three contenders. But Aso said he has the backing of 20 Diet members as he filed his candidacy. This will be the second time he is eyeing the top post in the Liberal Democratic Party. He first run for the position in 2001 which was won by Koizumi. He criticizes Koizumi's repeated visit to Japanese war memorial Yasakuni Shrine which has repeatedly angered China and South Korea. Once voted as prime minister, he vowed to refrain from visiting the shrine and encourage a summit meeting with the two neighboring countries to improve relations. Among his priorities are educational reform and economic growth to be achieved by major tax cuts for Japanese firms. He said he wants Japanese children to begin compulsory education one or two years earlier than at present.
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