US President George W. Bush arrived Tuesday at Osaka International Airport and is heading to the ancient Japanese city of Kyoto where he is set to meet Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on a string of issues such as Japan's ban on US beef and reinforcement of the two countries' decades-old alliance.

This is the third time for Bush to visit Japan since he took power in 2001. The last visit was in October 2003.

Bush is expected to ask Koizumi to speed up the process toward reopening market to US beef.

A Japanese panel has basically favored resumption of US beef from cattle aged up to 20 months.

Japan slapped a sweeping ban on US beef two years ago for fear of mad cow disease and is expected to made the final decision on the resumption issue next month.

Japan was the biggest US beef buyer before the ban. Some US lawmakers have urged to impose retaliatory tariffs on Japanese goods if the issue fails to be solved within this year.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss how to strengthen their military alliance and re-map US troops' presence in Japan.

The two countries agreed last month on an interim report with regard to the realignment of the US force in Japan.

Under the plan, Washington will remove about 7,000 Marine Corps service-members out of the Okinawa Prefecture.

It will also set up a headquarters in Japan to consolidate the command over US forces stationed there. Accordingly, Japan will take steps to facilitate joint military actions.

The United States has decided to replace its conventionally- powered carrier Kitty Hawk home-ported in Yokosuka, Kanagawa prefecture, with a nuclear-powered one in 2008.

Tokyo, however, is facing fierce opposition from local governments on the above movements.

The leaders are also expected to talk about the reconstruction of Iraq and the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsular.

After the summit meeting, Bush will deliver a policy speech on US diplomatic policy for Asia.

Bush will leave for South Korea Wednesday evening to meet with South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and attend the summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Then, he will visit China and Mongolia.

Source: Xinhua