The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, Mr Thanin Kraivixien, was today welcomed to Japan at an official ceremony held at Tokyo's Akasaka Palace -- the Japanese capital's official guest residence for foreign visiting statesmen. Mr Kraivixien arrived in Tokyo last night (7th September) to begin a five-day visit during which he will be received in audience by Emperor Hirohito, have talks with Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda and other Government officials, and visit the former capital city of Kyoto.

Mr Kraivixien is the first ASEAN Head of Government to visit Tokyo since the Japanese Prime Ministers tour of ASEAN's five member-States last month. During his visit to Bangkok, Mr Fukuda promised Thailand Japanese credits totalling 27.5 billion yen (103 million dollars) and a further grant of 2.5 billion yen (9.3 million dollars) to build a vocational training centre and to increase food production.

The Thai Prime Minister is expected to discuss these credits and grants with Mr Fukuda during his visit, as well as Thai-Japanese trade which is currently heavily in Japan's favour.

Earlier, about 40 Thai students and Japanese youths had demonstrated at a Tokyo park and outside the Tokyo Foreign Ministry against the visit of Mr Kraivixien and calling for the release of political prisoners in Thailand and other ASEAN countries.