TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan will continue to work together with the United States on promoting multilateral security frameworks even after President-elect Donald Trump takes office next year, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Friday.

Iwaya told a press conference in Tokyo that Japan's policy of focusing on "multi-layered" cooperation, such as with the Group of Seven industrialized nations and the U.S.-led Quad four-way group also involving Australia and India, "remains unchanged."

His remarks came amid concerns over a potentially weaker U.S. commitment to multilateralism under the "America First" policy advocated by Trump, a Republican who is returning to the White House after scoring a decisive victory over his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris earlier this week.

Iwaya was referring to the trilateral cooperation Japan has with the United States and South Korea as well as with the United States and the Philippines. "We will closely communicate with the next U.S. administration," he added.

Japan and the United States, under incumbent President Joe Biden, have been boosting their alliance and strengthening a multilateral strategic architecture with their like-minded partners, in the face of growing security challenges posed by China and North Korea.

Iwaya assumed his current post on Oct. 1 when Shigeru Ishiba became Japanese prime minister and formed his Cabinet.