Musharraf arrives in Japan

Published March 13, 2002

TOKYO, March 12: President Pervez Musharraf arrived here late Tuesday for a four-day visit during which he would hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, officials said.

Musharraf’s plane landed at Haneda airport at around 9pm (5pm PST), government officials said, adding that the President had no official event scheduled for the rest of the day and was driven to his hotel.

On Thursday, President Musharraf is to meet Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko before holding talks with Junichiro Koizumi at the prime minister’s residence.

Nuclear proliferation and resumption of normal yen lending to Pakistan are expected to be high on the agenda for his planned talks with Koizumi, diplomatic sources said in Islamabad.

On Wednesday, the President will hold a breakfast meeting with heads and chief executive officers of leading Japanese corporations.

He will also meet Japanese Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry, Takeo Hiranuma, and State Minister In-charge of Economic and Fiscal Policy Heizo Takenaka.

During talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi bilateral relations, expansion of trade and commercial relations, regional situation with special reference to the situation in occupied Kashmir and Afghanistan would come under discussion.

The talks will be followed by a joint press conference by the two leaders.

Earlier in the day, the President will call on Emperor Akihito who will be hosting a lunch in his honour.—Agencies

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