Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has held talks with US Vice President Kamala Harris. She arrived in Tokyo on Monday to attend the state funeral of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on Tuesday.

Their meeting was held on Monday evening at the State Guest House in central Tokyo.

Kishida told Harris that his mission is to further develop bilateral ties, following in the footsteps of Abe, who was committed to a stronger Japan-US alliance.

He called on Harris to work together to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific, which Abe had advocated.

Harris responded that Abe's leadership strengthened the relationship between the two countries.

She said, "The alliance between Japan and the United States is the cornerstone of what we believe integral to peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region."

Harris is one of some 40 foreign dignitaries whom Kishida is scheduled to meet through Wednesday while they are in the country.

Besides Harris, Kishida met Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and nine others on Monday.

Kishida will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and others on Tuesday. And on Wednesday, he will meet South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and others.