Top �� What's up around the Prime Minister �� May, 2003

First Day of the Prime Minister's Visit to the U.S. and the Middle East Thursday, May 22, 2003 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi left Haneda Airport on May 22 for a visit to the United States and the Middle East and visited the ranch and private residence in Crawford, Texas of Mr. George W. Bush, the President of the United States in the evening (dawn of May 23, Japan Time). Prime Minister Koizumi, receiving a heartwarming welcome from President Bush, joined President Bush in his truck for a tour of his ranch, and held unscheduled talks for two hours. The leaders are to hold a summit meeting on the morning of May 23 (late night of May 23, Japan Time) and will exchange opinions on the future Japan-U.S. relationship and the international situation, with particular regard to North Korea and Iraq.