TOKYO • Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will meet US President-elect Donald Trump next Thursday in New York, the first global leader to call on the billionaire after his election victory.
A Japanese foreign ministry official said yesterday that Mr Abe and Mr Trump had spoken for about 20 minutes on the telephone and tentatively set a date for the meeting, just before Mr Abe goes to Peru for an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
During their phone conversation, Mr Abe "talked about the importance of the bilateral relationship and the Japan-US alliance", which he stressed underpins the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific, the foreign ministry official said.
In response, Mr Trump said he hoped to strengthen the US-Japan relationship further, the official said. He also said he appreciated Mr Abe's economic policy and looked forward to working with him, she added.
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE