BEIJING (AFP) - – Japan's prime minister said on Saturday he had
agreed with leaders of China and South Korea that it was too early
to wind back stimulus policies designed to help their countries
weather the economic crisis.
Speaking at a joint press conference after a three-way summit in
Beijing, Yukio Hatoyama said he and his two counterparts had agreed
it was "premature to take an exit strategy" and withdraw from
fiscal spending measures.
"Japan has a very severe job situation now, and I understand
South Korea also has a similar condition," Hatoyama said after the
summit hosted by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and also attended by
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak.
"Considering such situations, we agreed that it was premature to
take an exit strategy."
His comments came amid a global debate about when nations should
ease out of their stimulus policies.
China unveiled a four-trillion-yuan (580-billion-dollar)
stimulus package late last year, and Japan's package includes
spending of 15.4 trillion yen (150 billion dollars).
South Korea, meanwhile, announced a 28.9-trillion-won
(21.3-billion-dollar) extra budget in March, complementing
additional spending announced earlier.
The three leaders also called for the quick resumption of
six-nation talks on ending North Korea's nuclear drive, with Wen
saying the door was open to make real progress.
They also pledged to deepen regional cooperation, and said they
would work together to ensure the success of global climate talks
in Copenhagen later this year and promote the development of clean
energy technologies.