OSAKA -- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and cooperate on issues related to North Korea and Iran during a meeting in Osaka on Friday.
The meeting took place during the summit of the Group of 20 major economies.
Abe kicked off the talks by referring to the fact that he was meeting with Trump for the third straight month, saying, "The frequent exchanges between our countries in such a short period of time proves the strength of the Japan-U.S. alliance."
Abe and Trump confirmed that they would further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance.
Abe informed Trump about his talks with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and others during his visit to Iran on June 12-13. He told the U.S. president that Japan will work to ease tensions between the United States and Iran.
Abe also thanked Trump for sending a letter to Akihiro Arimoto, the father of Keiko Arimoto, a Japanese national abducted by North Korea. He again told Trump that he intends to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un without preconditions.
The two leaders also agreed to accelerate Japan-U.S. trade negotiations.
According to the White House, Abe and Trump agreed to maintain the technological superiority of the alliance and protect confidential information and technology sharing, in what observers saw as a move against major Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei Technologies Co.
Abe, Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also held a meeting shortly after the Japan-U.S. summit. The three agreed to cooperate on security in the Indo-Pacific region, among other issues.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
