1.
GV INTERIOR Walesa and woman walking onto a stage to welcome.
0.10

2.
CU Walesa receiving applause.
0.21

3.
SV Members of the Sohyo Party applauding.
0.24

4.
SV Walesa receiving flowers from union representative.
0.35

5.
CU Chairman Motofumi Makieda speaks in Japanese, and shakes hands with Walesa.
0.46

6.
CU Woman applauding.
0.53

7.
CU Walesa addressing audience in Polish, interpreted into Japanese.
1.17




Initials





Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: INTRODUCTION: The leader of Poland's Solidarity Free Trade Union, Lech Walesa, has been given an enthusiastic welcome in Tokyo by Japan's biggest Labour organisation, Sohyo. Mr. Walesa arrived in Japan on Sunday (10 May) for a week-long visit at the invitation of a delegation from the 4.5 million-strong Japanese organisation.

SYNOPSIS: The Polish leader attended a special welcome rally on Monday (11 May). It was Mr. Walesa's second overseas trip since he lead Polish workers in their struggle for a free trade union rights. In January, he had an audience with the Pope in the Vatican. A Sohyo delegation visited Poland last November and signed a friendship agreement with Solidarity.

Ties between the two groups are particularly strong. Sohyo was one of the first foreign unions to establish contact with Solidarity, which it has supplied with office and printing equipment. A member of the Polish delegation said Solidarity might seek help from Japanese unions rescheduling a one billion dollar load from Japan to Poland.

The delegate said Solidarity wanted to learn how the Japanese had built up their powerful economy. Mr. Walesa has also said he wants to turn Poland into another Japan. He will have talks with Sohyo leaders, three other major Labour bodies and opposition parties as well. The ten-strong Polish delegation will also visit factories and the traffic control centre for the Japanese "bullet" train.