Submitted by admin on Thu, 2007-04-26 08:00. ::
He is expected to discuss strengthening bilateral ties and co-operation over North Korea during talks with President George W Bush at Camp David on Friday.
Mr Abe provoked an angry reaction in March after questioning whether there was any proof that the Japanese military kidnapped women to work as sex slaves during the war.
He has since stated several times that he stands by an official 1993 statement in which Japan acknowledged the imperial army set up and ran brothels for its wartime troops.
But he has expressed his opposition to a resolution currently going through the US Congress, which calls on Japan to make a formal apology over the use of so-called comfort women.
Mr Abe was expected to be greeted in Washington by protesters over the issue - a rare sight for visiting Japanese leaders to the US, Kyodo news agency reports.
"The Japan-US alliance is the cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy and national security and as unshakable, irreplaceable allies, we need to build a firm relationship of trust," he told reporters.
He said he would discuss the need to "find a solution to the issues of nuclear arms, missiles and abductions" in co-operation with other nations.
High on the agenda will also be the two countries' military relationship, as well as climate change, Iraq and Japan's decision to ease restrictions on US beef imports.
Correspondents say Mr Abe's visit will be subdued in comparison to that of his flamboyant predecessor Junichiro Koizumi, who had a close relationship with Mr Bush.
Mr Abe chose to broaden Japanese diplomacy when he took office, by breaking with a tradition that the new Japanese prime minister's first overseas visit be to Washington.
Mr Abe's visit to the US will also include a trip to the Arlington National Cemetery and dinner at the White House before he leaves for a five-nation tour of the Middle East.
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