Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump have released a joint statement on security and economy after their first summit.

The 2 leaders met at the White House on Friday.

The statement calls the Japan-US alliance the cornerstone of peace, prosperity, and freedom in the Asia-Pacific region.

It refers to an "unwavering" US commitment to defend Japan through the full range of both nuclear and conventional capabilities of the US military.

The United States says it will strengthen its presence in the Asia-Pacific region amid an increasingly difficult security environment, while Japan will assume larger roles and responsibilities in the alliance.

The statement says Abe and Trump instructed their foreign and defense ministers to hold early talks on ways to further strengthen the alliance. This includes a review of the 2 countries' roles, missions, and capabilities.

The 2 leaders affirmed that Article 5 of the bilateral security treaty covers Japan's Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, and that they oppose any unilateral action that seeks to undermine Japan's administration of these islands. China and Taiwan claim the islands. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory.

The leaders noted the importance of maintaining a maritime order based on international law, and said they oppose any attempt to assert maritime claims through intimidation, coercion, or force.

Without naming China, they called on "countries concerned" to avoid actions that would escalate tensions in the South China Sea, including the militarization of outposts.

Abe and Trump affirmed that the 2 countries are committed to a plan to relocate the US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station within Okinawa. The base is currently located in a densely populated part of the prefecture. The leaders agreed that the relocation plan is the only solution that avoids the continued use of the facility.

And they urged North Korea to abandon its nuclear and ballistic missile programs and refrain from taking any further provocative actions. They also affirmed the importance of seeking an early resolution of the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals.

On the economy, the statement says Trump and Abe are committed to using the 3-pronged approach of fiscal, monetary, and structural policies to strengthen domestic and global economic demand.

It says they remain fully committed to strengthening bilateral and regional economic relationships based on rules for free and fair trade.

They say this includes setting high trade and investment standards, reducing market barriers, and enhancing opportunities for economic and job growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

The 2 countries reaffirmed the importance of deepening their trade and investment relations and of their continued efforts in promoting trade and economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region.

Abe and Trump pledged to explore how best to accomplish these shared objectives, noting Trump's decision to pull the US out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact.

They said this includes Japan and the United States holding discussions on a bilateral framework, and Japan continuing to advance existing regional initiatives.

The leaders also decided to launch economic dialogue between the 2 countries to discuss cooperation across various sectors that will bring mutual economic benefits.

The statement says Abe invited Trump for an official visit to Japan this year and welcomed an early visit by Vice President Mike Pence to Tokyo. It says President Trump accepted these invitations.

Published Date:2017-02-11