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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Japan PM visits Obama White House | Japan PM visits Obama White House |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso will become the first foreign leader to meet President Obama at the White House when he arrives there for talks on Tuesday. | Japan's Prime Minister Taro Aso will become the first foreign leader to meet President Obama at the White House when he arrives there for talks on Tuesday. |
| It follows last week's Tokyo visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. | It follows last week's Tokyo visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. |
| It comes amid concern in Japan that its relationship with the United States had been in decline. | It comes amid concern in Japan that its relationship with the United States had been in decline. |
| Japan's generally warm contact with the Bush administration cooled when Washington removed North Korea from its list of states that sponsor terrorism. | Japan's generally warm contact with the Bush administration cooled when Washington removed North Korea from its list of states that sponsor terrorism. |
| Symbolism and substance | Symbolism and substance |
| Tokyo felt the move was premature, and it is also concerned that Japan's standing in the region is being eclipsed by China. | Tokyo felt the move was premature, and it is also concerned that Japan's standing in the region is being eclipsed by China. |
| So this White House meeting will be at least as important for its symbolism as its substance. | So this White House meeting will be at least as important for its symbolism as its substance. |
| By inviting Mr Aso to be the first foreign leader he meets at the White House, President Obama is hoping to soothe any ruffled feathers and re-balance the relationship. | |
| As the largest and second-largest economies in the world, it's no surprise that top of the agenda will be the global economic crisis. | As the largest and second-largest economies in the world, it's no surprise that top of the agenda will be the global economic crisis. |
| Mr Aso is likely to raise concerns about language in Washington's stimulus plan which pushes some sectors of the US economy to support American manufacturers. | Mr Aso is likely to raise concerns about language in Washington's stimulus plan which pushes some sectors of the US economy to support American manufacturers. |
| A Japanese government spokesman said the prime minister would express his opposition to protectionism. | A Japanese government spokesman said the prime minister would express his opposition to protectionism. |
| The stalled anti-nuclear talks with North Korea will also feature prominently in their discussions. | The stalled anti-nuclear talks with North Korea will also feature prominently in their discussions. |
| President Obama is expected to want to find out what more help Japan can offer in Afghanistan, and there will also be talk of new cooperation on energy and the environment. | President Obama is expected to want to find out what more help Japan can offer in Afghanistan, and there will also be talk of new cooperation on energy and the environment. |