Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said he will emphasize Japan's importance as a key US ally in Asia in the economic and security spheres. This will be his main focus during a visit to Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump on January 20, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
Iwaya's four-day visit begins on Sunday and will make him the first senior Japanese official to meet with members of the president-elect's team.
He is expected to meet with Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio, who is likely to be confirmed for the post on Monday.
Japan continues to advance its commitment to spend 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense by 2027. in line with the national security strategy, Iwaya also said.
Despite the enduring partnership between Japan and the United States, including a decades-long military alliance that provides the United States with strategic bases near China, Tokyo is concerned about possible trade tariffs on Japanese goods such as cars, which Trump has repeatedly discussed.
Takeshi Iwaya, who has held his current position since October, said he hoped his visit would pave the way for a meeting between Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The first meeting between the two leaders is expected to take place next month.