Hashimoto arrives in Singapore

Mon, 13 Jan 1997 | Source: REUTERS

SINGAPORE (Reuter): Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto arrived in Singapore yesterday on the last stage of a five-nation tour of Southeast Asia that will culminate in a major policy speech on his country's ties with the region.

Hashimoto was greeted at Changi airport by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and then went on to a reception attended by several senior cabinet members, including Foreign Minister Shanmugam Jayakumar.

Eyewitnesses said Hashimoto, who flew in from the Vietnamese capital Hanoi, appeared to be wearing a bullet-proof vest.

Billed by Tokyo as a landmark push to take its relations with the region beyond the economic sphere, Hashimoto's tour has been overshadowed by the 26-day-old hostage crisis in Lima.

Hashimoto was due to hold formal talks with Goh today and then give a key policy speech before leaving tomorrow.

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