Japan PM Shinzo Abe tells US President Donald Trump strengthening of Japan-United States alliance will remain

Japanese Prime Minister Abe shakes hands with US President Trump during their meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. Credit: Reuters

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told US President Donald Trump that a strengthening of the two nations' alliance will remain in place even after Abe's departure, a Japanese government spokesman said on Monday.

In a phone call lasting about 30 minutes, Abe explained his decision on Friday to resign as prime minister, the government said.