Japanese PM to visit Obama

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso is to become the first foreign leader to hold talks with US President Barack Obama at the White House.



The global downturn is expected to top the agenda as the US and Japan seek to revive their economies.



Officials said the leaders are also due to discuss Washington\'s policy on North Korea and Tokyo\'s support for Afghanistan.



Mr Aso\'s trip follows a Tokyo visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.



Japan\'s normally warm relationship with the Bush administration is said to have cooled when Washington removed North Korea from its list of states that sponsor terrorism.