TOKYO, Oct 28 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and United States (US) President Donald Trump agreed Tuesday at their first summit in Tokyo to further develop bilateral relations and forge a closer personal relationship, Kyodo news reported.
On the security front, both leaders are expected to confirm the importance of strengthening the alliance’s deterrence and response capabilities amid growing challenges from China and North Korea, while Washington continues to call on allies to increase defence spending.
At the outset of the meeting, Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister last week, pledged to build a “new golden era” of the Japan-US alliance with Trump, calling it “the greatest alliance in the world.”
Takaichi also praised Trump’s role in promoting peace in the Middle East and resolving a conflict between Thailand and Cambodia as “unprecedented historic achievements.”
Trump told Takaichi they would have “a fantastic relationship,” adding, “I have always had a great love of Japan and a great respect of Japan, and I will say that this will be a relationship that will be stronger than ever before.”
“I want to just let you know - any time you have any question, any doubt, anything you want, any favours you need, anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there,” Trump said.
After the talks, Takaichi and Trump will travel by Marine One helicopter to the US Navy base in Yokosuka, southwest of Tokyo, where they will board the aircraft carrier George Washington, according to a White House source.
Trump last visited Japan in 2019 for the Group of 20 summit in Osaka. He is currently on a three-nation Asian tour, having attended ASEAN-related meetings in Malaysia before arriving in Japan. He will next travel to South Korea, where he plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.
-- BERNAMA-KYODO
