March 19 (UPI) -- U.S. President Donald Trump was scheduled to host Japan's Sanae Takaichi at the White House on Thursday on her first visit to the United States since becoming prime minister in October.
Japanese officials said the agenda for the working lunch and dinner would be discussing how to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and boost economic and security cooperation as China's meteoric rise as an economic and military global power continues apace.
They said deals worth as much as $63 billion would be announced and that the pair would also reaffirm an agreement for Japan to invest $550 billion in key U.S. sectors, including energy, critical minerals, computer chips and ship building in return for lower tariffs on Japanese imports to the United States.
Before departing Tokyo, Takaichi told reporters her mission was to reaffirm the strong relationship with Trump in key areas, including security and the economy, amid a shift in U.S. focus toward the conflict in the Middle East, where she called for calm.
"I want to engage in substantial discussions based on Japan's point of view and our way of thinking. The top priority is the early de-escalation of the situation.
