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Japanese PM Leaves For Washington
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori left Sunday for Washington for talks with US President George W. Bush on bilateral ties and economic issues.
Economic issues are to top the agenda of the first summit between Mori and Bush following the volatility in global stock markets last week.
The two leaders are expected to issue a joint statement focusing mainly on macroeconomic policy to ward off a simultaneous recession in the world's two largest economies. Mori is likely to face pressure from Bush to take more actions in such areas as deregulation and the disposal of bad loans weighing down on Japanese banks.
Mori plans to brief Bush on steps to keep the ailing Japanese economy afloat and boost Tokyo stock prices, which have dropped to their lowest level in 16 years.
Yet, observers doubt whether embattled Mori, who is expected to resign in the near future, can present effective policy plans.
Mori has said he will move up the presidential election for his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from September, thus paving the way for him to step down as prime minister and head of LDP.
Mori will also reaffirm bilateral security ties between Tokyo and Washington, which have been strained by last month's sinking of a Japanese fisheries training ship in a collision with a US Navy submarine off Hawaii. Nine people, including four high school students, went missing after the accident and are feared dead.
The Japanese prime minister plans to visit the site of the accident on his way home from Washington.
Another bilateral security issue that may be taken up is U.S. forces stationed in Okinawa, Japanese government officials said.
Public sentiment over U.S. forces in Japan's southernmost prefecture has deteriorated following a string of incidents involving U.S. troops, including alleged arson attacks.
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