Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said Japan will try to value Asia's diversity in a bid to create an East Asian Community.
"Compared with Europe, Asia's distinction is diversity and not homogeneity," Kawaguchi said in a recent interview with The Japan Times. We "will put importance on diversity (of each Asian nation) as countries in the region expand cooperation for development."
Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are expected to adopt a joint declaration calling for creation of the proposed East Asian Community during a two-day Japan-ASEAN summit that begins Thursday.