Tokyo, April 28, SPA -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumileft Thursday for India on the first stop of a four-nation tour to seek support for Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council. Koizumi will also visit Pakistan, the Netherlands andLuxembourg during his six-day trip. He is expected to seek support for Japan's bid for apermanent seat in an expanded U.N. Security Council _ anhonor India also wants as U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annanmoves to reform the world body. On his first leg of the tour, Koizumi was expected toarrive in New Delhi later Thursday. During a three-daystay, Koizumi will hold talks with Indian Prime MinisterManmohan Singh and President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Japanese and Indian leaders plan to sign a joint statementon support for each other's bid for a Council seat, andstress how India and Japan can work together towardstability and prosperity in Asia. On Saturday, Koizumi will fly to Islamabad for talks withPakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and PrimeMinister Shaukat Aziz, with the main agenda focused on theissue of resumption of Japanese loans.--SPA1343 Local Time 1043 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/258532