The Latest: Trump getting down to business in Tokyo
The Latest on President Donald Trump’s trip to Asia (all times local):
President Donald Trump is getting down to business in Tokyo on the second day of his maiden trip to Asia.
Trump opens with a speech Monday to American and Japanese business leaders, then joins first lady Melania Trump for a welcoming ceremony and meeting with Japan’s emperor.
In the afternoon, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (shin-zoh AH’-bay) will meet over lunch and with their staffs, and hold a joint news conference.
Trump and Abe spent Sunday together. They played golf and chatted over lunch and dinner.
Trump and his wife are also meeting Monday with the families of North Korean abductees — to put a human face on the North’s human rights abuses.
President Donald Trump is stressing his close ties with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The two leaders dined with their wives in Tokyo, as part of Trump’s first stop on a 12-day trip through Asia.
Trump says that he and Abe « like each other and our countries like each other. » He adds that « I don’t think we’ve ever been closer to Japan than we are right now. »
The president adds that they are discussing a number of subjects « including North Korea and trade and other things
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he and U. S. President Donald Trump had a lively conversation over golf.
Abe spoke to reporters after he and Trump had lunch and played golf Sunday. He said that the two leaders were able to talk frankly in a relaxed atmosphere while out on the course.
Abe said he and Trump were able to « carry out in depth discussion, at times touching on various difficult issues. »
Their formal talks Monday are expected to focus on North Korea and other regional and bilateral issues.
President Donald Trump’s first trip to Asia began with a round of golf, a custom cap and a hamburger of American beef.
The president got a taste of home as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe welcomed him to Japan Sunday with a display of friendship that will soon give way to high-stakes diplomacy. The two men have struck up an easy rapport.
The leaders played nine holes of golf at Japan’s premiere course.
The low- key start was a prelude to the formal talks planned in Tokyo Monday. Abe will be looking for a united front against North Korea and reassurances that the U. S. will stand by its treaty obligations to defend Japan if attacked.
