Jordanian Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb arrived in Tokyo Monday for talks with his Japanese counterpart Junichiro Koizumi on economic issues and debt relief that he expected to be a “turning point” in ties, reports said.
"My current visit to Japan and the issues that will be discussed with the Japanese prime minister and key officials represent a turning point in the privileged relations between the two countries," Abu Ragheb told reporters.
The talks of Abul Ragheb and Koizumi are expected to be held Tuesday afternoon, and are expected to cover current international efforts to fight terrorism, and an exchange of views concerning the crippled Middle East peace process.
Abul Ragheb is expected to seek anew an easing of Amman's debt to Tokyo, which stands at around $1.8 billion, or 20 percent of Jordan's overall foreign debt, AFP quoted Jordanian officials as saying.
"Economic relations, Japan's technical aid to Jordan and Jordan's debt to Japan will top the agenda of talks," which will also include the violence in the occupied Palestinian territories, Abu Ragheb was quoted as saying by AFP.
“True Japan does not write-off debts but it could help in rescheduling debt,” said a senior Jordanian official. “And Jordan has asked the Japanese for a long-term rescheduling of the debt with very low interest rates,” he added.
Jordan's King Abdullah held similar talks in Tokyo during an official visit in December 1999 and secured a $400 million aid package from Japan, the agency added – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
