Toyota says Ford meeting did not discuss tie-up

TOKYO, Dec 27 (Reuters) Toyota Motor Corp. Chairman Fujio Cho and Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Alan Mulally met but did not discuss the possibility of forming any type of alliance, a Toyota spokesman said on Wednesday.

''It was just a get-acquainted meeting,'' spokesman Tomomi Imai said, adding that Toyota's top-level executives constantly meet with top executives of rival companies when the chance arises.

The Nihon Keizai business daily reported earlier that Cho and Mulally met last week as the first step in potential partnership negotiations.

Reuters SBA VP0630