Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and US Vice President Joe Biden have agreed to work closely to find common ground on a multilateral free trade pact.

Abe and Biden spoke by phone ahead of President Barack Obama’s visit to Japan next week. They agreed to push forward negotiations on a multilateral trade deal known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Negotiations are stalled as trade representatives haggle over tariffs. They’re set to meet again Friday in Washington, DC.

Abe thanked Biden for the US government’s efforts to improve relations between Japan and South Korea. Tokyo and Seoul have been at odds over a territorial dispute and different interpretations of history.

The two leaders also agreed to cooperate closely to ease tensions in Ukraine.