AMMAN -- King Abdullah II of Jordan begins a visit to Japan Saturday focussing on economic relations and the Middle East, a palace official told AFP Sunday.

During his three-day stay the King will have talks with Emperor Akihito and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on efforts to bring peace to the Middle East as well as Japanese aid to Amman and possibilities of easing Jordan's debt burden, the official said.

The king will also meet economic officials and businessmen to encourage Japanese investment in Jordan.

It will be his second visit to Japan since succeeding to the throne in 1999.

Japan is Jordan's leading creditor, owed more than 1.5 billion dollars out of Amman's total external debt of 6.9 billion. In the past three years it has given Jordan aid totaling 400 million dollars to assist economic reforms and fund infrastructure projects.