Jakarta, April 21, SPA -- Japan's foreign minister saidThursday he expects China to accept the offer of a summitbetween the country's two leaders to try to defuse theirworst diplomatic row in three decades. But China was stillconsidering whether to attend. Tensions between the two over World War II history,natural gas exploration and territorial disputes haveescalated in a series of anti-Japan riots in China inrecent weeks. Japan has demanded an apology, but theChinese government has blamed Japan for the troubles. The dispute threatens to overshadow a conference of Asianand African leaders, which both Chinese President Hu Jintaoand Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi are due toattend. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has appealed for apeacemaking session, and some observers say a meetingbetween the two is urgently needed. Japan's Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said he wasconfident Hu and Koizumi would meet, but that no definitedate had been set. "As you would imagine, the schedule for the two leadersis extremely tight," he said. "But over the course of thethree days in which the two leaders will be in Jakarta, Ido believe there will be a meeting between (them)."--more1112 Local Time 0812 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/256803