Ramos to visit Japan next week

Ramos to visit Japan next week

MANILA (UPI): Philippine President Fidel Ramos said yesterday he is scheduled to visit Japan next week in a two-day trip during which he is expected to discuss regional and economic issues with top officials.

Ramos said he hopes to encourage more Japanese businessmen to invest in the Philippines during the trip on May 16-17, when he is slated to address a conference sponsored by the Japanese news agency Nihon Keizai Shimbun.

The Foreign Affairs Department said Ramos is scheduled to meet Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto after his speech on May 16.

The two leaders are expected to discuss regional security issues which could affect peace and order in Asia and the Pacific, including the nuclear stand-off in the Korean peninsula and the dispute between China and Taiwan.

Ramos said he would also discuss with Hashimoto the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders' meeting, which would be held in the Philippines in November.

APEC is a regional economic group formed to spur trade among members by reducing barriers and opening up economies. It groups Australia, Philippines, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States.