Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi on Thursday restated his determination to strengthen the Japan-U.S. relationship by quickly pushing through bills related to updated Japan-U.S. defense cooperation during the current Diet session.
The government is set to explain the guideline bills before the Lower House today, paving the way for full-scale debate on the issue.
In a media event at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, Obuchi said he hopes to hold candid discussions with U.S. President Bill Clinton when he makes an official visit to Washington in May, and that Japan's steel exports to the U.S., which sharply increased last year, will not cause a serious trade dispute between the two nations.