Japan vows aid to Afghanistan ahead of Obama visit
(For full coverage of Obama's Asia trip click [ID:nOBAMAASIA])
TOKYO, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Japan decided on Tuesday to provide up to $5 billion in new aid to Afghanistan over five years, a package Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama hopes will improve strained security ties with Washington ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit this week.
Concerns are growing about friction over a planned reorganisation of the U.S. military presence in Japan, the first big test of ties between Washington and a new Japanese government that wants more equal relations with its closest security ally. [ID:nT80725] [ID:nT149151]
Hatoyama is expected to present the new aid package to Obama, who is in the midst of a lengthy review of U.S. strategy for Afghanistan, at a bilateral summit on Friday in Tokyo.
The aid package, which comes ahead of a planned halt to Japan's naval refueling mission in support of U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan, will focus on civilian steps including job training for former Taliban fighters after decades of war. (Reporting by Yoko Nishikawa and Yoko Kubota; Editing by Rodney Joyce)
TOKYO, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Japan decided on Tuesday to provide up to $5 billion in new aid to Afghanistan over five years, a package Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama hopes will improve strained security ties with Washington ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama's visit this week.
Concerns are growing about friction over a planned reorganisation of the U.S. military presence in Japan, the first big test of ties between Washington and a new Japanese government that wants more equal relations with its closest security ally. [ID:nT80725] [ID:nT149151]
Hatoyama is expected to present the new aid package to Obama, who is in the midst of a lengthy review of U.S. strategy for Afghanistan, at a bilateral summit on Friday in Tokyo.
The aid package, which comes ahead of a planned halt to Japan's naval refueling mission in support of U.S.-led operations in Afghanistan, will focus on civilian steps including job training for former Taliban fighters after decades of war. (Reporting by Yoko Nishikawa and Yoko Kubota; Editing by Rodney Joyce)
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