Bush begins Asia tour with praise for Japan

US President George Bush, buoyed by a long-sought UN victory on Iraq, arrived in Tokyo today and praised Japan for its contribution towards the rebuilding of the war-torn country.

Shortly after arriving with first lady Laura Bush, the president was greeted by Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi at Tokyo’s Akasaka Palace, Japan’s official state guest house.

In addition to thanking Koizumi for help with Iraq, aides said Bush would press Tokyo to cease intervening to prop up the dollar against the yen and let the currency markets set rates.

Later, what was billed as a “social dinner” was being held in a palace annex overlooking a Japanese-style garden and small, carp-stocked pond.

The banquet room was in traditional Japanese style, with the guests seated on the floor, a pit under the table providing leg room.

A few dozen protesters demonstrated against Bush’s visit in front of the grounds of the US Embassy, where the first couple was staying.

The protesters carried anti-nuclear messages, but also condemned the US-led war in Iraq and Japan’s plans to help with the aftermath.

A senior Bush administration official who travelled with the president aboard Air Force One said that in addition to giving money Japan was weighing whether to send forces to Iraq.

Bush flew to Japan shortly after the UN Security Council handed his administration a big diplomatic victory by authorising the resolution aimed at attracting more international money and troops to help stabilise Iraq.

The Tokyo visit is the first stop on a six-day whirlwind tour of Asia and Australia which takes in an international economic conference in Thailand.