US secretary of state meets Japanese leaders on bilateral ties

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US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) shakes hands  with Japan's Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone prior to  their meeting in Tokyo. Clinton sought to reassure Japan  Tuesday by backing it on North Korea and saying President Barack Obama will receive Prime Minister Taro Aso before any other foreign leader.(AFP/POOL/Tomohiro Ohsumi)

Aso has reportedly accepted the invitation.

The planned US-Japan summit later this month is seen as a sign that the world's two largest economies are trying to work together to avoid a further downturn in the global financial turmoil.

The US Secretary of State earlier signed an agreement with the Japanese Foreign Minister to reduce tensions caused by the presence of US troops on Japanese soil.

Under the deal, 8,000 Marines now stationed on the Japanese island of Okinawa will be moved to the US Pacific territory of Guam.

Clinton also called on Japan to play a greater role in UN-sponsored peacekeeping operations.

She voiced her hope that Japan would protect foreign ships in need after it dispatches destroyers on anti-piracy missions near Somalia in early March.

Editor:Du Xiaodan