Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi told his Thai counterpart Wednesday that Japan -- as it continues on its recovery track -- may be able to act as a stronger engine of growth and soak up more exports from Thailand.
The topic came up as Obuchi and Chuan Leekpai met at the Prime Minister's Official Residence to discuss the ongoing Asian crisis.
The two prime ministers both said they believe the worst is over for Thailand, where the Asian Contagion began in July 1997 when former Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh squandered the nation's foreign reserves in a vain attempt to maintain the Thai baht's dollar peg, only to lift the peg days later.