BEIJING- Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso called on Thursday for Tokyo and Beijing to unite in facing the world's environmental and economic challenges, while playing down concerns over China's military power.

In a wide-ranging speech in Beijing, Aso floated the prospect of a bilateral free trade deal and joint peace-keeping operations, and said closer ties between the historic rivals was the only way forward.

WELLINGTON (New Zealand) - ASIA stayed on high alert but free of confirmed swine flu cases Thursday, while nearby New Zealand - the only country in the region to confirm the disease - wound back its number of suspected infections.

Governments kept up strict health checks on travellers arriving from North America that were rushed into place this week as the disease spread quickly from Mexico.

HONG KONG - CATHAY Pacific Airways has declined a request by flight attendants to wear masks and gloves as a precaution against swine flu, saying on Thursday global health authorities haven't advised such measures.