TOKYO, Nov 10 : New Japanese Foreign Minister Michio Watanabe says his governments is unlikely to Join the proposed East Asia Economic Caucus (EAEC) as long as ft excludes the United States, reports Reuter.

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum Is a conference which Includes even the United States, so it is worthwhile, but for my part, I can't go along with thinking which excludes a particular country." Watanabe was quoted by Kyodo news service as saying on Saturday.

Watanabe's comments to a television interviewer were made two days after government officials said US Secretary of State James Baker had sent a memorandum to Tokyo urging it to oppose EAEC. Kyodo said.

EAEC is the brainchild of Malaysian Prime Minister

Mahathir Mohamad.

Details of Baker s memorandum were not disclosed but the United States has rejected the EAEC proposal excluding it from an organisation spanning one of the most dynamic economic regions in the world, the news agency said.

Watanabe and Industry Minister Kozo Watanabe arc to represent Japan In a three-day APEC meeting in Seoul starting on Tuesday. Baker and US Trade Representative Carla Hills are to take part, along with Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen.

APEC was bom in Australia in November 1989 as a forum to promote Asia-Pacific trade issues.

The APEC ministerial consultations were expected to focus on drafting a common Asia-Pacific approach promoting a successful outcome to the Uruguay Round