The Japanese prime minister, Keizo Obuchi, has said he believes Asia will soon regain its role as the economic growth centre of the world.

Speaking in Thailand on the final leg of his southeast Asian tour, Mr Obuchi promised that Japan would do its best to address the economic disparities between southeast Asian nations.

But he warned that governments had to protect their populations and environments instead of single-mindedly pursuing economic growth.

The Thai prime minister, Chuan Leekpai, asked Japan to act as a bridge between Asia and the other Group of Eight industrial nations to ensure equal opportunities to compete in international trade.

Mr Obuchi has used his tour to canvas opinion of Asian countries ahead of the G8 summit in Japan later this year.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service