http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=409643
*Aso pitches IMF reform, support for dollar in bilateral meetings * WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 KYODO *Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso* called for reforming the International Monetary Fund and voiced support for the U.S. dollar as a key currency in meetings Friday with Brazilian, British and Indonesian leaders before a two-day global financial summit, Japanese officials said. Aso explained Japan's plan to lend up to $100 billion to the IMF so as to help emerging economies affected by the global financial crisis, the officials said. *British Prime Minister Gordon Brown* ''highly appreciated'' Aso's initiative on IMF lending and said he will prod other countries such as cash-rich oil-producing countries in the Middle East to follow suit, they said. Brown and Aso agreed that an internationally coordinated fiscal and monetary policy approach is needed to weather the ongoing financial crisis. They agreed that the IMF's functions should be bolstered so that it can issue early warnings about financial disruption. * Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono *aired concern about the fallout of the current crisis on his country's real economy and sought continued financial assistance from Japan for the building of infrastructure in *Indonesia*, they said. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed worries about the turmoil's negative impact on his country's real economy and stressed that it is necessary to secure ample liquidity to avert devastation. Lula called for stricter regulations on speculative money movement, and Aso said ''appropriate regulations'' are necessary under a policy of international coordination. In a meeting with Brown, the Japanese premier said controls on financial markets ''should not contradict market principles,'' according to the officials. Aso agreed with Brown and Lula that the IMF should ''reflect the realities of the world economy,'' or a greater voice for emerging economies according to their economic power, the officials said. On trade front, Aso and Lula reaffirmed the importance of securing open trade and investment in a time of crisis, which could lead to protectionism. The Brazilian and Japanese leaders confirmed their will to conclude at an early date the Doha Round of trade liberalization talks under the World Trade Organization, the officials said. ==Kyodo [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
