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Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and US President George W. Bush agreed Friday to reconstruct Iraq after the ongoing war through both bilateral cooperation and UN activities, Kyodo News reported.
During a 10-minute telephone conversation, Koizumi was quoted as telling Bush that Japan wants to cooperate with the US to reconstruct Iraq and that the international community's participation must be solicited.
Bush reportedly responded that he also wants to cooperate with Japan in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq, and he believes a UN role will be also necessary.
Koizumi again said that he supports the military strike on Iraq by the US-led coalition.
Bush was quoted as telling Koizumi the operation was advancing well so far.
The two leaders also decided to work closely in dealing with various issues related to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) by cooperating with South Korea and China, the report said.
It was the first time for Koizumi and Bush to talk following the beginning of the US war on Iraq on Thursday.
(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2003)
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