(VOVworld) – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President-elect Donald Trump agreed to strengthen their alliance when they met last month in New York, Japan’s Ambassador to the US Kenichiro Sasae, said. Speaking at an event in Washington on Thursday, Ambassador Sasae said the two leaders had a wide-ranging discussion covering the Asia-Pacific and global issues. They agreed on the importance of the Japan-US alliance and the prospects for bilateral ties.

On the same day, the Pentagon said US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will meet his Japanese counterpart Tomomi Inada in Tokyo next week. The US Department of Defense said it will advance US priorities including rebalance to the Asia-Pacific. Both sides will also underscore their long-term alliance towards security cooperation achievements.