TOKYO, November 15, SPA -- Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda left for Washington on Thursday for talks with U.S. President George W. Bush on his first overseas trip as Japan's leader. Fukuda is expected to assure Bush that Japan will do allit can to quickly resume a naval mission in the IndianOcean in support of U.S. troops when the two leaders meetat the White House Friday. The leaders also were likely to discuss thedenuclearization of North Korea and Tokyo's concerns overthe abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korean agentsin the 1970s and 80s. «It is important to strengthen and promote Japan-U.S. relations and have broad-ranging exchanges,» Fukuda toldreporters Thursday before his departure.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/500060