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Japan PM visits Obama White House Japan's PM first to visit Obama
(about 3 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. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is to become the first foreign leader to hold talks with US President Barack Obama at the White House.
It follows last week's Tokyo visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The global downturn is expected to top the agenda as the US and Japan seek to revive their economies - respectively the world's largest and second-largest.
It comes amid concern in Japan that its relationship with the United States had been in decline. They are also due to discuss Washington's policy on North Korea and Tokyo's support for Afghanistan.
Japan's generally warm contact with the Bush administration cooled when Washington removed North Korea from its list of states that sponsor terrorism. Mr Aso's trip follows a Tokyo visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Symbolism and substance The BBC's Richard Lister in Washington says there is concern in Japan that relations with the US have been in decline.
Tokyo felt the move was premature, and it is also concerned that Japan's standing in the region is being eclipsed by China. Japan's normally warm relationship with the Bush administration cooled when Washington removed North Korea from its list of states that sponsor terrorism.
So this White House meeting will be at least as important for its symbolism as its substance. Tokyo felt the move was premature, and it is also concerned that Japan's standing in the region is being eclipsed by China, our correspondent says.
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. Stimulus plan
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 expected 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. President Obama is expected to want to find out what more help Japan can offer in Afghanistan.
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. A Japanese foreign ministry official said on Tuesday that Toyko would pay the salaries of 80,000 police officers in Afghanistan for six months, as part of its commitment to help rebuild the country.
The official said Japan would also provide funds to help build schools and hospitals, and provide a teacher-training programme.
Money from the projects will come from the $2bn (£1.3bn) Tokyo has pledged towards Afghan reconstruction since 2002.