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Japan's premier begins visit to Greece

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January 14, 2001 

ATHENS-- (AP) - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori arrived in Greece on Saturday for an official visit aimed at boosting trade and tourism, following his landmark tour of Africa.

Mori, who flew to Athens from Nigeria, was to meet Premier Costas Simitis later Saturday and leave for Tokyo Sunday.

Annual trade between the two countries stands at about dlrs 1 billion - heavily in Japan's favor - while Greece attracts the lowest level of Japanese investment within the European Union.

Greece is an increasingly popular tourist destination for Japanese: About 100,000 visit every year.

In November, a bus with 33 Japanese tourists was hijacked in southern Greece by a fugitive murderer. The hostages were released unharmed.

Mori was the first Japanese prime minister to travel to sub-Saharan Africa. His Jan. 7-15 tour also included visits to South Africa and Kenya.

During his tour, Mori pledged broadened aid and investment programs for Africa and sought support for Tokyo's long-standing bid to expand the United Nations Security Council and make Japan a permanent member.