Japan's PM first to visit Obama

Mr Aso (right) is likely to concentrate on economic matters

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 - respectively the world's largest and second-largest.

They 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.

The BBC's Richard Lister in Washington says there is concern in Japan that relations with the US have been in decline.

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

Tokyo felt the move was premature, and it is also concerned that Japan's standing in the region is being eclipsed by China, our correspondent says.

Stimulus plan

Mr Aso is expected to raise concerns about language in Washington's stimulus plan which pushes some sectors of the US economy to support American manufacturers.

A Japanese government spokesman said the prime minister would express his opposition to protectionism.

President Obama is expected to want to find out what more help Japan can offer in Afghanistan.

A Japanese foreign ministry official said on Tuesday that Toyko would pay the salaries of 80,000 police officers in Afghanistan for six months, as part of its commitment to help rebuild the country.

The official said Japan would also provide funds to help build schools and hospitals, and provide a teacher-training programme.

Money from the projects will come from the $2bn (