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| Sunday, 15 May 2005 |
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Abbas on mission to seek Chinese, Japanese aid RAMALLAH, West Bank, Saturday (AFP) Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas embarks Sunday on his first tour of China and Japan in a bid to secure political muscle and economic aid from the two long-time Palestinian allies. Treading in the footsteps of his predecessor, Yasser Arafat, who visited both Asian giants, Abbas is set to arrive in Tokyo on Sunday before travelling on to Beijing for another two-day visit. Abbas, who has won international praise as a moderate who has managed to get militant Palestinian groups to adhere to a de facto truce, goes east fresh from a tour of South America following earlier trips to the Middle East and Europe. In Japan - a major financial backer to the Palestinian Authority - Abbas will meet Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and the head of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Sadako Ogata, plus Crown Prince Naruhito. The benefits of the trip are likely to cut both ways. The Palestinians are likely to get their hands on substantial financial aid with the Japanese hoping to further their ambitions in the world arena. "The Japanese prime minister will announce a Japanese grant to finish a sewage project, develop the seafront in the Gaza Strip and other projects totalling 400 million dollars over the next three months," Shaath said. Koizumi has pledged to play a supportive role in the Middle East peace process as Japan strives for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. A Japanese foreign ministry official said Tokyo would discuss ways to help bankroll peace and the creation of a "self-reliant" Palestinian state. "Prime Minister Koizumi will convey the very important message that Japan continues to support president Mahmud Abbas on the roadmap for the Middle East peace process including financial assistance," an official said. |
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