Japan`s PM Aso To Visit Washington Feb 24

The two leaders will consult on effective measures to respond to the global financial crisis and will discuss North Korea and other issues.

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso will visit President Barack Obama in Washington next week, making him the first foreign leader the new U.S. president will host at the White House since he took office.

U.S. and Japanese officials said Aso will visit on Feb. 24.

"Japan is a close friend and a key ally of the United States and the president looks forward to discussing ways in which the two countries can strengthen cooperation on regional and global challenges," the White House said in a statement.

"The two leaders will consult on effective measures to respond to the global financial crisis and will discuss North Korea and other issues," the White House said.

The visit was announced as U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Tokyo on the first leg of a tour of Asian countries.

Clinton and Japanese Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone emphasized at a joint news conference that they wanted to reinforce the two countries' alliance, amid Japanese concerns about being overtaken in Asia by the growing power of China.

Obama met in Washington with Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Jan. 12, a little more than a week before his Jan. 20 inauguration.

Obama will make his first international trip on Thursday, when he visits Canada.