Obuchi to meet Asian leaders

Obuchi to meet Asian leaders

BANGKOK (AP): Japanese Foreign Minister Keizo Obuchi headed to Thailand yesterday, the first stop on a tour that will also take him to Malaysia and Singapore for talks with regional leaders on ways to ease Asia's economic crisis.

Obuchi will make a "major policy speech" in Singapore about Japan's role, Ken Shimanouchi, the Foreign Ministry's deputy press secretary, told reporters in Bangkok.

The Southeast Asian leaders will be asked for their views on what steps they want the Group of Seven top industrial powers, plus Russia, to adopt at the May 15 to May 17 summit in Birmingham, England.

He will also discuss measures Japan has taken to boost its own economy, including last week's 16.7 trillion yen (US$126 billion) stimulus package, and the progress of implementing Japanese aid in the region.