Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi (right) and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas at a joint news conference in Tokyo on May 16

Koizumi also said Japan would be happy to host a summit between Abbas and his Israeli counterpart, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is expected to visit Tokyo soon.

Abbas arrived in Tokyo on May 15 for a three-day visit for meetings with Japanese leaders, who are pushing to expand Japan's role in the Middle East.

In a joint news conference after meeting Koizumi, Abbas said he welcomed the Japanese aid, which Koizumi said was for "the immediate future."

Abbas said he hoped Tokyo would use its political clout to help the peace process move forward.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 21, 2005
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