[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press occasion at Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport).

The Prime Minister said the following with regard to his visit to the United States,

“I hope to make this summit meeting one that sends the message that the Japan-US Alliance is unwavering, and that together with President Trump we will make the Japan-US Alliance even more robust and strong.

With regard to economic relations, Japan and the United States have enjoyed win-win economic relations. I intend to continue developing our economic relations in a win-win manner. I also hope to make further advances in the economic relations between our two countries based on free and fair rules. I would like to confirm these points at the Summit Meeting. As for the TPP, I will of course thoroughly explain my thoughts and Japan’s stance.

In Florida, I am very much looking forward to playing golf with President Trump, and to my wife and I having dinner with President Trump and the First Lady. With regard to golf, I heard a story from my grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, about the time he played with former US President Eisenhower. Apparently, they hit some good shots and some bad ones as well, and I heard that seeing up close President Eisenhower’s disappointment when missing a putt helped bring the two much closer together. In the same way, I hope to build a strong relationship of trust with President Trump in an informal setting.