Tokyo, Nov 6 (Kyodo) The leaders of Japan and five Mekong-region countries will hold their first summit meeting in Tokyo today and tomorrow to hammer out Tokyo's support for measures against climate change and others steps aimed at narrowing disparities within the region.

The two-day meeting, which will involve Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and his counterparts from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, takes place against the backdrop of Japan's continuing aid efforts in the Mekong River region as China's presence grows ever larger there.

"Japan will aim for open cooperation amid China's ongoing offensive (in the region)," said a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official. "Japan will stress anew its support for the Mekong (region) and that there has been no change in the government's stance."

The participants are scheduled to issue a joint declaration covering a range of topics tomorrow.