TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will make a three-day trip to the United States from Thursday for his first in-person talks with President Donald Trump in Washington, Japan's top government spokesman said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said Tuesday that a specific date has yet to be fixed for the first Japan-U.S. summit between Ishiba and Trump, although sources close to the matter have said the meeting is scheduled for Friday.

Hayashi told a press conference that he hopes the two leaders build a personal relationship through candid exchanges and share their views on security and economic challenges to elevate the bilateral relationship to "new heights."

Since becoming prime minister in October, Ishiba has emphasized that strengthening the alliance with the United States is a "top priority" for his government's foreign and security policies, as the Asian nation faces growing security challenges posed by China, North Korea and Russia.

Trump was inaugurated for his nonconsecutive second term as president on Jan. 20, vowing to reinstate his "America First" policy platform, which he first adopted during his 2017-2021 tenure.