Trilateral Asian environment talks planned

TOKYO, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Japan, China and South Korea have agreed to hold the first ministerial meetings on Asian environmental issues in South Korea next April.

Ministers in charge of science and technology will discuss seismological research in Eastern Asia, utilization of a global positioning system, prevention of desertification in China as well as capital assistance to establish student exchange programs.

Urged by China's increasingly deteriorating environment alongside its rapid economic expansion, including problems associated with acid rain, more regular ministerial meetings may be on the agenda, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported Wednesday.

Japan's Education, Science and Technology Minister Takeo Kawamura will meet with China's Science and Technology Minister Xu Guanhua and South Korean Science and Technology Minister Oh Myung, if no Cabinet reshuffles occur before the meeting is held, the paper said.

The three nations already pledged to strengthen scientific cooperation, especially on the protection of the environment, in a joint declaration signed in October.