Asian-African leaders Summit opens in Jakarta
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-04-22 15:11

Chinese President Hu Jintao (C) is greeted by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (R) before the opening of the Asian-African leaders Summit in Jakarta on April 22, 2005. Leaders of three-quarters of the world's population had to ask hard questions about how Asia and African can develop together and not just reminisce at a commemorative Third World summit, Indonesian President Yudhoyono said on Friday. [Reuters] U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan (L) is greeted by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono before the opening of the Asian-African leaders summit in Jakarta on April 22, 2005. Annan made an impassioned plea on Friday for Asian and African leaders to show boldness and be ready to compromise on his historic proposals to reform the United Nations. [Reuters] General view of the opening of the Asian-African leaders summit in Jakarta convention centre April 22, 2005. Leaders of three-quarters of the world's people were told on Friday to ask hard questions about how Asia and Africa could develop together and not just reminisce at a Third World summit overshadowed by bitter rows. Prime ministers, presidents, kings and ministers from 100 Asian and African countries arrived to a red-carpet welcome at Jakarta's main convention centre in sleek black sedans amid tight security by tens of thousands of armed police and soldiers. [Reuters] Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi speaks during the Asian-African leaders' summit in Jakarta April 22, 2005. Koizumi apologised on Friday for the "tremendous damage and suffering" caused by Japan's wartime past in an apparent effort to help douse a flaming row with China. Koizumi made the apology during a speech at a multilateral summit in Jakarta in front of leaders from 100 Asian and African countries including Chinese President Hu Jintao, whom he is likely to meet in the coming days. [Reuters]