TOKYO - JAPANESE Prime Minister Taro Aso will visit President Barack Obama next week, making him the first foreign leader to visit the Obama White House, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced on Tuesday.

Mrs Clinton told a news conference that Aso has been invited to the White House on Feb 24.

Japan's Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said Aso has accepted the invitation.

The invitation was a coup for Tokyo, which wants to solidify its importance with the new administration as the United States' most important Asian ally. Japanese officials have expressed their satisfaction that Mrs Clinton chose Japan as her initial stop on her first overseas trip since becoming Obama's chief diplomat. Mrs Clinton will also visit Indonesia, South Korea and China. -- AP