Xinhua Asia-Pacific News Summary at 1600 GMT, Jan. 19

HANOI -- In the first plenary session of the 26th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) here on Friday, delegates centered their discussions on the role of parliamentary diplomacy in addressing challenges to peace, security and prosperity in the region and the world.

"We should urge our governments to bolster more effective cooperation to cope with both traditional and non-traditional challenges," said Tong Thi Phong, Vice Chairwoman of Vietnam's National Assembly, the country's top legislature. (Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum)

- - - -

JAKARTA -- The United States Defense Secretary James Mattis was scheduled to meet his Indonesian counterpart Ryamizard Ryacudu in his upcoming visit to Jakarta slated on Jan. 22 to Jan. 24, an Indonesian official said here on Friday.

"His main aim to visit Indonesia was to enhance defense cooperation. The framework had already been set, among the contents was military arsenal modernization," Indonesia Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir said here. (Indonesia-U.S.-Visit)

- - - -

TOKYO -- The Japanese government on Friday reasserted its claim that U.S. military helicopters had flown over an elementary school in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa.

The U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa denied however that three of its helicopters flew over an elementary school close to the controversial Marine Corps Futenma Air Station, despite Japan's defense ministry releasing video footage to the contrary. (Japan-U.S.-Helicopters)

- - - -

JAKARTA -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo would visit South Asian countries next week, aimed at enhancing further economic ties with South Asian economies, an official at Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry said here on Friday.

The visit in Sri Lanka was scheduled on Jan. 24 to 25, followed with continuing visits to India on Jan. 25 to 26, Pakistan on 26 to 27, Bangladesh on 27 and 28 and later on to Afghanistan. (Indonesia-S.Asia-Tour) Enditem