Mar 8, 2007, 10:03 GMT
Tokyo - Visiting Bolivian President Evo Morales on Thursday in Tokyo expressed his support for the formation of an alliance of natural-gas producing Latin American nations, Japanese media reported.
It was the first time Morales has publicly supported the proposal first proposed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
The plan would bring together countries in the region that produce natural gas so that they can control production and prices.
But the alliance is not intended to use political influence over consumer nations, Morales was quoted as saying by Kyodo News Agency.
Bolivia holds the second largest natural gas reserves in the region next to Venezuela.
On Tuesday, Morales met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and expressed his support for Japan's bid for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
At the meeting, Abe promised a grant of 800 million yen (6.9 million dollars) to help tackle poverty in Bolivia.
Morales met with Japanese Emperor Akihito Thursday morning before he ended his four-day visit in Tokyo.
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