Shinzo Abe departs for 8-day US visit, to hold talks with Obama

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left Japan on Sunday for an eight-day official visit to the United States during which he will hold talks with President Barack Obama on Tuesday to reaffirm their countries' robust bilateral alliance, Kyodo reported.

One of the highlights of Abe's visit will be delivering a speech to a joint session of Congress, the first time for a Japanese prime minister to do so. The expected 40-minute speech will be closely watched as it is expected to foreshadow a statement he will issue in summer marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

During their summit talks, new Japan-U.S. defense cooperation guidelines, negotiations on a U.S.-led Pacific free trade initiative, and a proposed China-led development bank are likely to top the agenda, diplomatic sources and Japanese officials said.