Obama to host Japan's Abe in Washington next Friday
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E-mail China.org.cn, February 16, 2013
U.S. President Barack Obama will?hold talks with?Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the White House on Feb. 22, with North Korea high on the agenda, the White House announced on Friday.
Abe's visit to Washington comes after a fresh nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on Tuesday.
Obama will hold "in-depth" discussions with Abe on a range of " bilateral, regional and global issues, including the U.S.-Japan Security Alliance, economic and trade issues, and deepening bilateral cooperation," the White House said in a statement.
During a phone conversation with Abe on Wednesday, Obama reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Japan's security, including defending Japan with the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
After taking office in December, Abe had planned to visit the United States as early as January for talks with Obama. However, the trip had to be postponed due to Obama's busy schedule including his Jan. 21 inauguration ceremony, Japanese government sources said.
