The Australian and Japanese foreign ministers are reportedly not going to attend the 12th Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Cebu next week, Philippine government officials said Thursday.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer is skipping the ASEAN meetings "due to conflict of schedule," an official said on condition of anonymity.

"Manila has been informed by Canberra that Minister Downer can not make it to the meeting because of a previous engagement that he has to attend to. He is going to the United States for an official visit," the source said.

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso may not also be present during the meeting, another source said.

"There is no formal notice yet to the Philippine government but that's what we've heard. The reason was not disclosed but he might not be in Cebu for the ministerial meetings," the source said.

Australia and Japan are among the six ASEAN dialogue partners that also include China, South Korea, India and New Zealand.

The Philippine government made a last-minute decision to postpone the ASEAN leaders meeting and the 2nd East Asia Summit last December on the resort island of Cebu, citing an approaching typhoon. The meeting was re-scheduled to take place again in the same venue on Jan. 10 to 15.

Source: Xinhua