Brussels, 18/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Sunday 20 April 2008, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson is starting a 6-day tour of Eastern Asia, taking him to Japan until 24 April and then China until 26 April. Ahead of an expected World Trade Organisation meeting of ministers in Geneva in May to discuss the outline of a compromise deal to conclude the Doha trade round, convergence of views will be on the agenda. In Tokyo, Mandelson will meet Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura, on 21 April. On 23 April, he will attend the 17th EU-Japan summit alongside President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso, the acting president of the European Council and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa, and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. In Beijing, he will open high-level business and trade talks between the EU and China on 25 April, attended by a large delegation from the European Commission, headed by Barroso (see EUROPE 9643). (E.H.)