Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump agreed during a telephone conversation Saturday to hold face-to-face talks on Feb. 10 and affirmed the importance of bilateral ties, Kyodo News quoted the Japanese and US governments as saying on Sunday.

The leaders “affirmed in our phone conversation the importance of the Japan-US alliance in economic and security challenges,” Abe told reporters after the call.

And Trump “affirmed the ironclad US commitment to ensuring the security of Japan,” the White House press office said.

The talks in Washington will be the first meeting between the Japanese and American leaders since Trump took office. The two held unofficial talks in New York last November shortly after Trump caused a shock by winning the highly divisive presidential race.

“I want us to have a frank exchange of views on the economy and security in our meeting,” Abe told reporters after Saturday’s 42-minute phone call with Trump.

A government official quoted Abe as telling Trump that he “hopes the United States will become a greater country through (your) leadership,” adding Japan wants to “fulfill our role as your ally.”

Trump told Abe the United States considers Japan an extremely important partner and feels the alliance between the countries is of high importance, the official said.

The two leaders also committed to deepening the bilateral trade and investment relationship, according to the White House.

Abe explained to Trump the contributions Japanese automakers make to the US economy, the official said without elaborating, while another government source said Trump asked Abe to urge Japanese companies to create more jobs in the United States.

Source: MENA