Japan seeking summit with Chinese officials
TOKYO – Japan’s top government spokesman said Friday that an Asian regional summit in Beijing this November would be a good opportunity for the leaders of Japan and China to hold their first talks ever amid sour relations. The Chinese government, however, rejected the suggestion.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting would provide a “natural” environment for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping to meet on the sidelines. Beijing will be hosting this year’s annual meeting for the 21-member group.
He said the world’s second and third largest economies must act as responsible members of the international community.
Kurdish forces capture oil fields near Kirkuk
BAGHDAD – Kurdish security forces took over two major oil fields outside the disputed northern city of Kirkuk before dawn Friday and said they would use some of the production for domestic purposes, further widening a split with the central government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The takeover of the Bai Hassan and Kirkuk oil fields were the latest land grabs by Kurds, who have responded to the Sunni militant insurgency that has overrun large parts of Iraq by seizing territory of their own, expanding the Kurdish autonomous zone.
Associated Press
