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SV Mr. Zenko Suzuki, Japanese Prime Minister, descends aircraft steps and greeted by Singapore's Foreign Minister Suppiah Dhanabalan and other officials
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CU PAN Mr. Suzuki walking to car
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SV Children at airport waving Japanese flags PAN TO Mr. Suzuki's car driving past
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: INTRODUCTION: Japanese Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki arrived in Singapore on Tuesday (13 January) on the third leg of his tour of the five countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). ASEAN links the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia, and Mr. Suzuki's tour is viewed as designed to convince them of Japan's desire for mutually beneficial economic and political relations.

SYNOPSIS: On his arrival Mr. Suzuki was greeted by Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Suppiah Dhanabalan, and other government officials. After a brief airport ceremony the Japanese Premier was driven into the city to begin talks with his Singapore counterpart Lee Kuan Yew.

At a news conference later the same day Mr. Suzuki said Japan could contribute to Asian security only by aiding its economic development. He said Japan would co-operate with the United States and Western Europe to ensure that the Asian balance of power was not endangered. But Mr. Suzuki did not elaborate on what form the co-operation would take, adding that the constitution prevented Japan from making a military contribution. On the question of economic relations, Mr. Suzuki said the countries he had visited so far had agreed to negotiate investment guarantee arrangements to attract more Japanese investment.