Arab News Japan

TOKYO: A telephone summit was held early Thursday (local Tokyo time) between Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and new U.S. President Joe Biden, officials of the Prime Minister office in Tokyo told Arab News Japan.

The talks was the first since the American President was inaugurated last week.

The two leaders confirmed the strategic and security alliance between their countries and agreed to build close ties.

Suga and Biden also affirmed their close cooperation to deal with global challenges especially the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, and to work together to realize free, open Indo-Pacific.

The issue of the Japanese nationals Tokyo accuses North Korea of abducting them in the seventies and eighties of last century, was also discussed and Suga called the U.S. to cooperate for its early resolution.

Suga and Biden also confirmed application of Article 5 of Japan-U.S. security treaty to Senkakus’ Islands, which give assurances of Washington’s commitment to protecting the Islands, that are claimed by China.