• 

 
On September 23, 2018 (local time), Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a press conference in New York in the United States of America.
 
In regard to his dinner with the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, the Prime Minister said,
 
“President Trump and I had a private dinner for about two and a half hours. In a relaxed atmosphere as always, we had a frank and in-depth exchange of views not only about Japan-U.S. relations, but also about various issues related to the international community. Particularly in regard to the North Korea issue, we agreed to further strengthen the momentum created by the historic U.S.-North Korea Summit Meeting held in June, and to continue working closely together towards the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. As for the abductions issue, which is of utmost importance, I had heard the strong sentiments of the members of the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea before my departure from Japan, and I conveyed their messages to President Trump. As I spoke, President Trump leaned in and listened closely; in response, he reiterated that he had firmly conveyed Japan’s position in person to Chairman Kim Jong-un of North Korea. Working together with the international community, including the United States, we will resolve the abductions issue and, as the next step, I will engage with Chairman Kim Jong-un directly. I am determined to seize and make the most of all opportunities to resolve the abductions issue at the earliest possible date.”
 
In addition, the Prime Minister said,
 
“With regard to trade issues, we shared candid exchanges of views with each other about various topics related to U.S. trade policy, in addition to the trade relations between Japan and the United States. I believe we did have an extremely constructive discussion on commerce, investment, and trade between Japan and the United States as well as the FFR (talks for free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals). In any case, Minister Motegi will be meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer in New York after this. Following that meeting, I will speak again with President Trump at our Summit Meeting on September 26.”  
 
The Prime Minister also said,
 
“Initially, the plan was to dine at a restaurant in the basement. I was actually invited to the drawing room of his private residence, where I first met President Trump in November two years ago. I suppose it was around 30 minutes before our dinner. As he suggested that we could converse in a more relaxed atmosphere in that space, we spoke there for about half an hour  and had our dinner there, instead of visiting a restaurant. Thank you very much.”