at 18:30 (JST), October 17

Asian View
"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.





https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20231017183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : 140 countries kremlin
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231017_07/

China is hosting an international forum on its Belt and Road Initiative beginning on Tuesday in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to talk on the sidelines.

The Chinese government has said the two-day event is expected to draw delegates from more than 140 countries.

Tuesday's schedule includes a business forum and a banquet for state leaders. Xi will deliver a speech on Wednesday.

The Russian presidential office says the Putin-Xi meeting is slated for Wednesday. Putin is traveling to China for the first time since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Kremlin says the two leaders will discuss current regional and international issues. It said the Chinese and Russian governments hold similar or the same stances on important global issues.

Putin stressed his friendly relationship with Xi in an interview with Chinese state-run TV ahead of his trip to China. He expressed his hope to enhance bilateral cooperation.

The two leaders will have talks for the first time since they met in Moscow in March. Observers are paying attention to whether they will discuss fighting between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas, and Russia's continuing invasion of Ukraine.

Key words : kojima keio
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231017_02/

China is set to welcome world leaders to its international forum on the Belt and Road initiative. The meeting begins on Tuesday and is Beijing's most important diplomatic event of the year.

Delegates are gathering in the Chinese capital for the two-day forum. China wants the Belt and Road initiative to be a massive economic bloc linking Asia and Europe.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will be present. He's scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines.

Beijing says more than 150 countries have signed up since Xi began promoting the initiative 10 years ago. It says it has invested over 230 billion dollars in participating economies.

Beijing stresses the economic achievements. But Western nations are increasingly wary of the initiative which has left some developing nations saddled with ballooning debts.

Italy is the only G7 nation taking part. It's said to be considering dropping out as the expected benefits have failed to materialize. No Chinese firms have so far taken part in the planned redevelopment of Italian ports and other infrastructure projects.

An Italian furniture producer wanted to make bigger inroads into the Chinese market. But sales haven't grown as it hoped. China accounts for only about 10 percent of sales. He says The Belt and Road initiative was not helpful.

China apparently aims to use the forum to assert its influence on the global stage. But a foreign ministry spokesperson didn't say how many countries would attend.

With concerns growing in many nations, Professor Kojima Kazuko of Keio University, an expert on Chinese politics says Beijing is likely to stress that the initiative is not an expansion of Chinese power.

"The international situation has changed a lot over the past 10 years. It's getting severe for China. Even if China calls on other nations to go hand in hand, they may not follow," Kojima says. She also says it will be difficult for China to win further international support for the initiative.

Key words : talent agency under fire
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231017_01/

Johnny & Associates, a talent agency under fire for alleged sexual abuse by its late founder Johnny Kitagawa, has changed its name to Smile-Up.

The firm launched a website on Tuesday under the new company name.

The company announced earlier this month a plan to rename itself. Following the announcement, the agency's logo was taken down from its Tokyo headquarters.

The firm also shut down on Monday shops selling photos and other products featuring the agency's entertainers. It also removed "Johnny's" from the names of other entities, including the fan club "Johnny's Family Club."

Officials say under the new name, the company will provide compensation to the victims starting in November and after compensating all of them will dissolve as a company. Attention is focused on the details of the plan.

A separate talent agency will be established to manage former Johnny & Associates performers who wish to work with the new entity on individual contract basis.

The company plans to ask members of its fan club to come up with a name for the new agency.

Key words : foreign minister visit north
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231016_29/

Russia says Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will start a two-day visit to North Korea on Wednesday.

Russia's Foreign Ministry made the announcement on Monday.

The move comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed to reinforce cooperation at their summit last month. The two countries marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations on October 12.

During his visit Lavrov is expected to discuss details on bilateral cooperation in the military and economic fields, including energy, apparently with the United States and other Western countries in mind.

These nations are increasingly at odds with Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.

Pyongyang has also announced through the state-run Korean Central News Agency that Lavrov's visit is at the invitation of the North Korean Foreign Ministry.

North Korea has announced plans for a third attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite later this month, following two previous failures.

South Korean media reports suggest that North Korea will receive technical support from Russia to develop spy satellites.

Key words : north recent agreement
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231016_14/

North Korea has slammed Japan's recent agreement with the United States to purchase Tomahawk cruise missiles from the country a year earlier than planned.

A commentary by the Korean Central News Agency in the ruling party's newspaper on Monday said North Korea's armed forces are "keenly watching every move of Japan."

It said, "Japan's military moves" have reached a "very grave phase."

The commentary said, "Japan has interfered in the internal affairs of other countries and stepped up the overseas advance of the Self-Defense Forces, pursuant to the US strategy of hegemony."

It also referred to security cooperation among Japan, the US and South Korea, and warned, "Japan's arrogant choice will create new challenges to its security and will result in escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula and in the region."

The commentary describes defending peace and stability in these areas as an important mission for North Korea's armed forces.

Observers say the article also appears to be aimed at justifying the country's nuclear and missile development programs.

Key words : 40 countries rice prices
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231016_34/

Government officials and experts from 40 countries are gathering in the Philippines to swap ideas on how to bring down soaring rice prices. Severe weather and export restrictions imposed by some nations have caused the cost of the staple to jump.

Some 1,800 representatives, mainly from Asia and Africa, are attending the International Rice Congress in Manila. The forum held every four years started on Monday.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called for cooperation to ensure global food security. His country is one of the world's biggest rice importers.

He said in a speech, "This congress comes at an opportune time for us to compare and reevaluate policies, discuss ideas for enhancing global rice value chains and introduce better practices and technologies."

Global rice prices are at their highest level in 15 years. This comes after the world's top exporter India suspended overseas shipments from July as its rice production has been hit by scorching heat and torrential rain.

Participants stressed the importance of scientific approaches to tackle the problem.

A Philippine official from an international research institute said science will enable the development of "good rice varieties that can address the climate issues that we are facing now."

Trade restrictions and market trends are high on the agenda. Participants will also discuss research on the use of new technologies in agriculture, such as drones and artificial intelligence.

The forum runs through Thursday.

Key words : japanese farmer
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Key words : coast guard
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20231016_18/

The Japan Coast Guard says two Chinese government ships have entered Japan's territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. The coast guard is warning the Chinese vessels to leave the waters.

Coast guard officials say the two Chinese ships entered the Japanese waters south of Minamikojima Island one after another around noon on Monday.

As of 10 minutes past noon, the Chinese ships were reportedly about 18 to 20 kilometers south of Minamikojima and were heading north.

This is the 26th time this year and the first since October 9 that Chinese government ships have entered Japan's waters off the Senkaku Islands.

Japan controls the islands. China and Taiwan claim them.

The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory, in terms of history and international law. It says there is no issue of sovereignty to be resolved over them.