Abe to Present Trump with Proposals for More Jobs in U.S.

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday that he plans to present proposals for creating more jobs and increasing investment in the United States, during his upcoming meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump next week. "I'd like to discuss a broad framework of how Japan is ready to contribute to improving the productivity of U.S. industries and strengthening their competitiveness, including cooperation on infrastructure investment," Abe said. "It's important for Japan and the United States to share recognition that the two countries can benefit from closer economic relations," he said at a Budget Committee meeting of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament. "I'd like to hold deep discussions (with Trump) on the kind of economic relationship that the two countries should build," Abe added. The prime minister reiterated the importance of Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. bilateral security treaty, which stipulates U.S. obligations to defend Japan. Referring to increasing threats from North Korea's ballistic missile development, Abe said showing the world that the United States would come to support Japan if it is attacked and retaliate for the attack would work as a deterrent. Abe also said that he aims to show the world in the upcoming summit with Trump at the White House on Feb. 10 that there is no change in the Japan-U.S. alliance. Elsewhere at the Lower House committee meeting, Abe said that he hopes to visit Russia at an early date in order to hold discussions on a territorial dispute over four Russian-held northwestern Pacific islands, called the Northern Territories in Japan. "Although it's not easy to resolve the territorial dispute, I'm committed to solving the issue and putting an end to the longstanding row during our generation," he said. The islands were seized by the former Soviet Union from Japan in the closing days of World War II. The dispute over them has prevented Japan and Russia from concluding a peace treaty to end their wartime hostilities. END