OSAKA — Government leaders from 11 Asian cities, six countries and from around the Kansai region gathered Thursday in Osaka for a two-day summit to discuss issues of mutual concern and cooperation, ranging from tourism and foreign direct investment to the environment.
In many of Asia's largest cities, the rapid economic growth of recent years has created unprecedented problems for local government officials, who are struggling to upgrade mass transportation, install new water and sewerage systems and clean up the environment.
This is especially true in Beijing, where international concern is growing over the air quality during the 2008 Olympics.