Japanese PM to express WWII remorse at Asian-African summit

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to express his country's remorse over its aggression during World War II at the Asian-African summit next week in Jakarta, a report says.

Abe will be the first Japanese premier to address the Bandung conference since Koizumi in April 2005.

Japan "has no choice but to touch on 'remorse' when speaking in front of leaders from Asian countries," since this year marked the 70th anniversary of the country's defeat in WWII, Kyodo quoted a government source as saying.

Abe's speech at the April 22-23 summit is likely to be reflected in the statement he will issue in August to mark the 70th anniversary of Japan's defeat in WWII, Kyodo said.