Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US President Donald Trump have agreed to seek the conclusion and signing of a trade deal at a bilateral summit next month.
The two leaders met for talks in France on Sunday on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit.
They agreed to meet again during a UN General Assembly session late next month.
During Sunday's meeting, Abe welcomed an agreement reached on Friday on important industrial and agricultural issues between Toshimitsu Motegi, Japan's minister in charge of trade negotiations with US and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.
Abe said the officials reached the agreement after negotiations based on a Japan-US joint statement issued last September.
Abe said that with many issues still to be worked out at working levels, he wants to accelerate relevant discussions toward concluding an agreement.
Abe said he is glad that negotiations have made reciprocal progress, and believes the deal will be beneficial for both countries.
