Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba arrived in Washington ahead of a meeting with United States President Donald Trump, during which the two are expected to talk about furthering cooperation on defense and the economy.
"Since it's going to be our first face-to-face meeting, I hope to build trust with him," Ishiba told reporters before departing from Tokyo's Haneda airport. "I'd like to confirm in my meeting with the president that Japan and the US will cooperate in the economic and security fields; that we will work together toward peace, and developing freedom and openness in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond," NHK quoted Ishiba as having said. Trump and Ishiba are planning to hold a press conference after meeting on Friday.
An earlier report suggested that the two would announce a partnership in developing artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors.