Mori to meet Mbeki

The Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshiro Mori, will meet the president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, later today Tuesday as he continues his visit to the country.

Mr Mori is also expected to announce plans on increased financial assistance to South Africa in a speech which Japanese officials say will define relations between the two countries.

Mr Mori's visit, the first to that country by a serving Japanese prime minister, is intended to promote trade with Africa and to seek African support for Japan's bid to gain a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

He will go on to visit Kenya and Nigeria.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service