Former US President Donald Trump has a meeting with the visiting former Japanese Prime Minister and ruling Liberal Democratic Party Vice President Aso Taro at the Trump Tower in New York.

Former US President Donald Trump had a meeting with the visiting former Japanese Prime Minister and ruling Liberal Democratic Party Vice President Aso Taro at the Trump Tower in New York on April 23.

S/ Donald Trump, former US president:  He’s a highly respected man in Japan and beyond.  And somebody that I’ve liked, and I’ve known through our very dear friend, Shinzo. We’ll be talking about Japan and the United States right now, and lots of other things also, but highly respected. It’s a great honor to have him.

After the meeting, Trump’s side issued a statement saying that the two discussed the enduring importance of the Japan-U.S. alliance for the stability of the Indo-Pacific region.

The two also discussed responses to China and North Korea, according to the statement.

It also said that Trump praised Japan’s increase in defense spending.