U.S. President Bill Clinton will make a two-day visit to Japan beginning Thursday for talks with Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiromu Nonaka said Friday.
Among the topics to be discussed are security issues, including the situation in North Korea, and the international economy and Japan's economic problems, Nonaka said.
This will be Clinton's first Japan visit since April 1996. During his stay, Clinton will meet with the Emperor and the Empress, as well as with Japanese business leaders, Nonaka told a press conference. "We hope his visit will strengthen our cooperative relationship," Nonaka said.
Clinton will arrive early Thursday after attending a summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Kuala Lumpur, and will leave Friday evening, Nonaka said.
Clinton will meet with the Imperial Couple Thursday afternoon before a summit with Obuchi, he said. On Friday, the two leaders are scheduled to tour Hakone, a mountain resort area southwest of Tokyo, where Obuchi will host a luncheon for Clinton, Nonaka said.