WASHINGTON -- Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump concurred on accelerating new bilateral trade negotiations in a bid to reach an agreement at an early date at the summit talks held in the White House on Friday.
Regarding the abduction issue of Japanese nationals by North Korea, Trump promised to thoroughly cooperate in resolving it. The U.S. president also confirmed his visit to Japan to attend the summit meeting of the Group of 20 major economies slated for June in Osaka.
At their first summit meeting since November last year, Abe and Trump held one-on-one talks for about 45 minutes, accompanied only by their interpreters. It was followed by a meeting of a small number of officials, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and then an expanded meeting. The latter two meetings lasted about an hour and 45 minutes.
At the beginning of the talks, Trump showed his willingness to agree on a trade pact before his state visit to Japan from May 25.
Trump said, "Japan puts very massive tariffs on agriculture -- our agriculture -- going for many years. And we want to get rid of those tariffs."
Abe explained that Japanese companies invested 23 billion dollars (about 2.568 trillion yen) in the United States following the inauguration of the Trump administration, resulting in the creation of 43,000 new jobs.
His remarks are apparently aimed at proceeding with the trade negotiations that will go into full swing in favor of Japan.
"I'd like to discuss the trade talks so that economies of both countries will grow further," Abe said.
The two leaders agreed that Japan and the United States will aim to reach an agreement at an early date, based on what was discussed at the talks between Toshimitsu Motegi, minister for economic revitalization, and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, who were both present at the expanded meeting.
Regarding North Korea, Abe expressed appreciation to Trump for bringing up the abduction issue twice during the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting in Hanoi in February.
Abe and Trump affirmed close cooperation to work toward realizing an early resolution of the abduction issue.
At Friday's summit talks, Trump reportedly gave Abe a detailed explanation about how the abduction issue was dealt with in the U.S.-North Korea talks.
"Next time, I will face Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, and resolve the issue. I received a strong message from President Trump in which he said he will thoroughly cooperate [in resolving the abduction issue]," Abe said after the summit meeting.
The two leaders also confirmed close cooperation between Tokyo and Washington as well as trilateral cooperation with Seoul to work toward achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
In regard to the G20 summit in June in Osaka, the two leaders agree to closely cooperate to work toward building consensus on main agendas.
"I'd like to work together and cooperate with President Trump to make it successful," the prime minister said.
Trump in his visit in May will become the first state guest after Crown Prince Naruhito becomes emperor.
"It will convey a strong message that the Japan-U.S. alliance will remain firm in the new era, Reiwa," Abe said.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
