Fukuda arrives in U.S. for summit talks with Bush

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda arrived Thursday in the United States where he is expected to explain to U.S. President George W Bush the following day about Japan's efforts to resume its refueling mission in the Indian Ocean and seek cooperation in dealing with North Korea.
An advocate of active Asian diplomacy, Fukuda will seek understanding from Bush that his policies are in the common interests of Japan and the United States, according to Japanese officials. The prime minister also hopes to reaffirm the Japan-U.S. alliance. He and Bush will hold summit talks in Washington for about an hour, make brief remarks to the press and then continue talks at a luncheon hosted by Bush, the officials said.