Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas embarks Sunday on his first tour of China and Japan in a bid to secure political muscle and economic aid from the two long-time Palestinian allies. Treading in the footsteps of his predecessor, Yasser Arafat, who visited both Asian giants, Abbas is set to arrive in Tokyo on Sunday before travelling on to Beijing for another two-day visit. The Palestinians are likely to get their hands on substantial financial aid with the Japanese hoping to further their ambitions in the world arena. Palestinian deputy prime minister Nabil Shaath told AFP that Tokyo was to unveil a series of aid projects. "The Japanese prime minister will announce a Japanese grant to finish a sewage project, develop the seafront in the Gaza Strip and other projects totalling 400 million dollars over the next three months," Shaath said.
Koizumi has pledged to play a supportive role in the Middle East peace process as Japan strives for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
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