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View all search resultsUS President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Japan for three days from Monday for his first in-person talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
S President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Japan for three days from Monday for his first in-person talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said.
Trump is slated to visit Japan for the first time in about six years. Takaichi, who won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election on Oct. 4, became Japan's first female prime minister on Tuesday, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba.
Kihara, Japan's top government spokesman, said at a regular press conference on Wednesday that Trump is also set to meet with Emperor Naruhito during his stay.
"President Trump's visit is an extremely meaningful opportunity to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance," Kihara said, adding that Takaichi's government "sincerely welcomes" the trip.
Kihara also said he hopes the two leaders will build a personal relationship of trust and reaffirm that Tokyo and Washington will work together to realize a "free and open Indo-Pacific," where China's clout is growing.
Trump's meeting with the emperor and summit talks with Takaichi are being arranged for Monday and Tuesday, respectively, while he is also likely to visit a US naval base in Yokosuka, southwest of Tokyo, sources familiar with the matter said.
Takaichi plans to discuss with Trump ways to respond to China's growing military activities in the East and South China seas, as well as North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, the sources said.
She will also seek US support to resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. Family members of the abductees may meet with Trump, the sources added.
Among other issues expected to be discussed at the summit are a bilateral trade and investment deal reached in July and Japan's defense spending, with Washington pressing for it to be increased.
Takaichi is known for her conservative political stance and hawkish security views, which she shares with the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who built a close rapport with Trump during the president's first four-year term beginning in 2017.
In a separate press conference, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said he will be in charge of coordinating with the United States on implementing the Japan-US agreement on tariffs.
In the July deal, the countries agreed that the United States would impose 15 percent tariffs on Japanese autos and other products, lower than those initially proposed by Trump.
"As I took part in past Japan-US trade talks, I'd like to work toward the sincere and steady implementation of the new deal," Motegi said. "I'll also use this opportunity to promote economic growth and cooperation" to ensure economic security.
Trump, who returned to the White House for a second term in January, last visited Japan in 2019 for a Group of 20 summit in Osaka.
Before heading to Japan, Trump is expected to visit Malaysia to attend meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, in which Takaichi is also considering participating.
After his stop in Japan, Trump plans to travel to South Korea for a two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit from Oct. 31, where he may meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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