Abe and Trump also agreed to take concrete action to improve their countries’ defense capabilities, during their 55-minute talks ahead of the opening of a two-day Group of Seven summit in the Sicilian town of Taormina, southern Italy, later in the day.

The two leaders reaffirmed cooperation in responding to terror threats, in the wake of recent attacks including a suicide bombing in Manchester on Monday, according to officials with access to their talks.

On international trade, which will be a major topic of the G-7 summit, Abe said he will highlight the importance of free and fair trade at the meeting among leaders of the seven major industrial nations--Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States. Trump said he supports free and fair trade, the officials said.

At the beginning of the bilateral meeting, Trump said North Korea is a problem to the international community. Abe praised the United States’ strong commitment to the security of the world.

During the meeting, Abe and Trump shared the view that now is the time to add pressure on North Korea, rather than having talks with it.

The Japanese and US leaders expressed hope that China will exercise its influence to have Pyongyang stop its nuclear and missile programs, while agreeing to call on other G-7 leaders to work together to deal with the North Korea issues at the summit.

They confirmed that the Japanese and US governments will hold “two-plus-two” security talks early among their foreign and defense ministers on the issue of strengthening the Japan-US alliance’s deterrent power.

Abe renewed his invitation for Trump to pay his first visit to Japan since he took office in January, apparently hoping for a visit around autumn this year.

Abe showed support for the US Navy’s freedom of navigation operation in the South China Sea, where China is developing military bases.

At the same time, the Japanese leader expressed willingness to promote talks between Japan and China.

Abe and Trump met in person for the second time since Trump’s inauguration. At their first talks, held in the United States in February, the two leaders agreed to hold bilateral talks whenever they both attend international gatherings. (Jiji Press)