New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said today that she had a "frank talk" with US President Donald Trump, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
Takaichi, who earlier this month became the first female prime minister in Japan's history, made the statement as Trump traveled to Malaysia, the first leg of his tour of Asia, which also includes a visit to one of the main US allies on that continent.
The two spoke by phone today, two days before the US president is due to visit Japan.
"I am determined to take the alliance between Japan and the US to even greater heights," Takaichi wrote in "Ex". The Japanese Prime Minister described the US president as a "very cheerful and funny person".
Takaichi made it clear to Trump that strengthening bilateral relations "in the field of diplomacy and security" is a "top priority of her government".
The US President wants Japan, as well as other allies, to increase its defense spending.
Yesterday - in her first general policy speech - the Japanese Prime Minister announced that she would increase defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product in the next fiscal year - two years earlier than planned, AFP notes.