FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump greets Japan鈥檚 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a meeting on the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, New York, U.S., September 25, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
TOKYO 鈥� Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told U.S. President Donald Trump that the strengthening of their two nations鈥� alliance would be maintained even after Abe鈥檚 departure from office, a Japanese government spokesman said on Monday.
Abe announced on Friday he was resigning because of poor health, his long-running battle with ulcerative colitis ending his tenure as Japan鈥檚 longest-serving prime minister.
鈥淗e wants President Trump to rest assured because the policy of bolstering the Japan-U.S. alliance will remain unchanged,鈥� Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Akihiro Nishimura said.
Nishimura was speaking to reporters after a 30-minute telephone call between Abe and Trump, early on Monday in Japan. Trump called Abe the 鈥済reatest prime minister in Japan鈥檚 history,鈥� according to a White House spokesman.
Abe told Trump that Japan would like to cooperate closely with the United States as it draws up a new missile defence strategy, Nishimura said.
Japan in July took a step towards acquiring weapons that can strike North Korea, after a ruling party committee approved proposals to consider acquiring strike capability to halt ballistic missile attacks.
White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement Trump told Abe he had done a 鈥渇antastic job鈥� and that the relationship between their two countries was stronger than it has ever been.
鈥淭he president called Prime Minister Abe the greatest prime minister in Japan鈥檚 history,鈥� Deere said.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party will vote on Sept. 14 for a new leader to succeed Abe, Jiji news agency reported.