Trump says Japan PM Ishiba to visit him next week

US President Donald Trump said Friday that Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will visit him next week and he is looking forward to meeting with him, Report informs via Kyodo News.

Trump did not provide other details about Ishiba's visit, including the date of their meeting. But sources familiar with the plan said earlier this week that Ishiba would hold his first in-person summit with Trump, possibly on February 7, in Washington to confirm the importance of the bilateral alliance's deterrence and response capabilities.

The Japanese government has told a senior ruling party lawmaker that Ishiba is scheduled to make a three-day trip to the United States from Thursday, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.

"I have great respect for Japan. I like Japan," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.