ADDIS ABABA, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who is on an Africa trip, will arrived here Saturday evening, said a Japanese diplomat.

    Akira Chiba, assistant press secretary of Japanese Foreign Ministry, told journalists that Koizumi will arrive at 10:10 p.m. (1910 GMT) at the Bole International Airport.

    A welcome ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. (0700 GMT) Sunday morning at the State House, Ethiopia's presidential office, he said.

    Koizumi is slated to meet his Ethiopian counterpart Meles Zenawi on Sunday, and to hold talks with African Union Commission Chairperson Alpha Oumar Konare on Monday.

    Financial aids will be a topic between the Horn of Africa nation and the world's second largest economy. Through the visit, Tokyo hopes to strengthen ties and seek support for its ambition to win a permanent seat at the UN Security Council, media reports said.

    After ending his Ethiopia tour on Monday afternoon, Koizumi will fly to the west African country of Ghana for a visit. Enditem