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

Fourth Day of the Prime Minister's Visit to the U.S. and the Middle East Sunday, May 25, 2003 On the evening of May 25 (late night of May 25, Japan Time), Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi arrived in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the final destination on his tour, and visited the palace of Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud for a summit meeting. At the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi and Crown Prince Abdullah agreed to cooperate in providing support the reconstruction of Iraq and bring about peace in the Middle East. Prime Minister Koizumi also expressed his intention to provide assistance for human resources development in such fields as desalination project and automotive repair technology. Crown Prince Abdullah agreed to participate in the Japan-Arab Dialogue Forum proposed by Prime Minister Koizumi. That night (dawn of May 26, Japan Time), Prime Minister Koizumi paid a courtesy visit to King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. Prime Minister Koizumi also held talks with representatives of the Japanese nationals living in Saudi Arabia. He enquired as to the condition of the Japanese injured in the terrorist bombing in Riyadh on May 12, expressing his heartfelt sympathy and giving them encouragement. Later that night (morning of May 26, Japan Time), Prime Minister Koizumi left Riyadh for Japan.