Xinhua Asia-Pacific news summary at 1600 GMT, Dec. 20

TOKYO -- Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) approved Wednesday an interim report summarizing its arguments over constitutional reform, marking another step towards the first-ever amendment to the pacifist postwar constitution.

According to the interim report, the LDP members all share the view to legalize the existence of Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) through revising the constitution, but differ over the ways to achieve the goal. (Japan-Constitutional reform)

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NEW DELHI -- With Rahul Gandhi formally taking over the reins of India's main opposition Congress party last week, the oldest party in India has placed its best bet on the last Gandhi dynast to stay relevant.

Political experts feel that 47-year-old Gandhi has finally managed to come of age, despite having been a constant victim of a vicious, below-the-belt campaign of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that projected him as an unwilling and inefficient political dynast. (India-Politics)

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COLOMBO -- A Sri Lanka-China exhibition portraying the history and culture of the Maritime Silk Road kicks off at the Colombo National Museum on Wednesday to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka.

Titled "Gone with the Wind and Waves Maritime Silk Road Chinese Cultural Relics Exhibition", the event is organized by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Wayamba Development and Cultural Affairs, the Art Exhibition China and the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, in a bid to inform the Sri Lankan public of the strong cultural ties shared between the two countries since ancient times. (Sri Lanka-China)

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LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan -- Up to 17 militants were killed over the past 24 hours as the government forces backed by air force pounded Taliban positions in Nad Ali district of the poppy-growing Helmand province, provincial government spokesman Omar Zawak said Wednesday.

The government forces, according to the official, targeted Taliban positions in parts of Nad Ali district from the ground and air over the past 24 hours, killing 17 insurgents and injuring five others. (Afghanistan-Militants) Enditem