Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush started talks Friday evening on reconstruction of Iraq and nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Koizumi and Bush, meeting at the State Guesthouse over dinner, are also expected to discuss economic issues including foreign exchange rates.
Bush arrived in Tokyo in the afternoon on the first leg of his six-nation Asia-Pacific tour on the occasion of the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Bangkok on Monday and Tuesday.
The trip will also take him to the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia and Australia.
It is the first summit meeting between Koizumi and Bush since one in Texas in May. Bush last visited Tokyo in February 2002.
Bush's visit to Japan is taking place after the Japanese government pledged Wednesday to provide 1.5 billion US dollars in grants in 2004 for Iraq's reconstruction.
The announcement was an apparent effort to satisfy Washington, which has reportedly called on Japan for huge financial contributions and to send Self-Defense Forces (SDF) troops to Iraqas early as possible to assist in the reconstruction.
Koizumi will brief Bush on Japan's financial contribution for which the US president is expected to express appreciation.
Koizumi is also expected to explain that Japan is considering providing a total of up to 5 billion US dollars to help Iraq's reconstruction over a four-year period starting in 2004, which will likely be formally announced at an international donors' meeting on Iraq on October 23-24 in Madrid.
In addition , Koizumi is to explain Japan's plan to send SDF troops to Iraq although it is unclear whether the premier will mention the timetable and size of the dispatch.
Japanese government is currently considering sending more than 100 SDF troops to Iraq by the year-end to assist in reconstructionin such areas as securing safe water, electricity, sewerage and medical services.
On DPRK's nuclear issue, Bush and Koizumi are expected to talk about how the two countries should approach the next round of six-party talks on the nuclear standoff, while calling on the DPRK to accept the next round as early as possible.
According to Kyodo, Bush is also expected to reiterate his support for Japanese government's efforts to resolve the abductionissue between Japan and the DPRK.
On the economic front, Koizumi and Bush are likely to exchange views on foreign exchange rates.
Bush has signaled he will urge Japan to refrain from currency market intervention to stem the yen's rise against the dollar, Kyodo said.
But Japanese government does not want the yen to keep rising, which could negatively affect its export-led economic recovery, the news agency added.
Bush will leave Tokyo early Saturday and make a brief stop in Manila before arriving in Bangkok on Saturday night to attend the APEC summit.
After attending the summit, Bush will visit Singapore, the Indonesian island of Bali, Australia and Hawaii and return to Washington on Oct. 24. Enditem
