Japan will host a meeting of Asian countries next week to discuss financial assistance for the Palestinian Authority, a report said Monday.

Japan will host a meeting of Asian countries next week to discuss financial assistance for the Palestinian Authority, a report said Monday.

Ministers from Japan, South Korea and several member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, such as Thailand and Indonesia, will get together on February 13 and 14, Kyodo News agency said.

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is expected to attend the meeting aimed at helping pave the way for resuming direct talks between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, the agency quoted government officials as saying.

No official confirmation of the meeting was available from the Japanese government Monday.