Noda to meet with Obama in Hawaii.

A senior White House official says that President Barack Obama will hold talks with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda on Saturday.

White House deputy adviser Ben Rhodes on Wednesday said the leaders will meet in Hawaii on the sidelines of the APEC summit.

Rhodes said Japan is a key US ally in the Asia-Pacific region and the 2 leaders will discuss a broad range of economic and security issues.

In the meeting, Obama expects a positive response from Noda on Japan's joining the TPP talks. The United States views the TPP as an important framework for trade liberalization.

Before meeting with Noda on Saturday, Obama will host leaders of the member countries of the TPP.

Later, Obama will hold bilateral meetings with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and President Hu Jintao of China.

After the APEC summit, Obama will visit Australia and Indonesia.

Thursday, November 10, 2011 13:04 +0900 (JST)