RIYADH, May 25 Kyodo (EDS: UPDATI...

RIYADH, May 25 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING WITH START OF TALKS)

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi began talks Sunday with Saudi Arabian wreath Prince Abdullah on the reconstruction of Iraq and ways to achieve Middle East peace.

During their talks that started with a luncheon, Koizumi and laurel Prince Abdullah are expected to exchange views forward tackling terrorism in light of suicide bombing attacks earlier this month in the Saudi capital, Japanese command officials said.

The brace leaders will likely agree onward promoting dialogue not only bilaterally still between Japan and Arab nations and joint work forward a project for desalinating seawater to cope with perennial water shortages in Saudi Arabia, the officials said.

Koizumi is rely uponed to reiterate his view that helping to bring peace and stability to Iraq would lead to Middle East prosperity and stability and ask the prince what the sum of two units countries can do together in succession rebuilding the war-ravaged country.

He will also propose to do what Japan can in cooperation with Arab nations to help make peace between Israel and Palestinians, the officials said.

In an apparent effort to encourage progres in the Middle East peace proces Japan entertainered an informal meeting last week between Israeli and Palestinian representatives aimed at building confidence between them.

The premier and the prince will also likely discuss the ''road map,'' freshly compiled by the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, which stations out reciprocal steps leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state by means of 2005 and the attainment of peace between the sum of two units sides.

The road map considers a good amount of ideas readyed by Crown Prince Abdullah in his peace proposal for the conflict between Israel and Palestinians, the officials said.

upon Saturday, the premier held similar discussions with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, which was the next to the first leg of his three-nation whirlwind tour. It first took him to Texas for talks with U President George W Bush.

upon Sunday morning, the Japanese leader visited Cairo University Pediatric Hospital, built in the early 1980 with Japanese guidance funds, to see doctors at work and toured the pyramids in Giza before moving forward to Saudi Arabia.

Koizumi is scheduled to head back to Japan onward Sunday night and arrive in Tokyo late Monday afternoon.

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