Asahi wrote that Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Seko spoke by phone with Secretary of Commerce Ross on Monday and confirmed his plan to visit the U.S. for talks with the secretary ahead of the first meeting of the new U.S.-Japan economic dialogue slated for mid-April. The two officials reportedly did not discuss bilateral trade in detail. Seko told reporters afterward that they discussed the importance of bilateral economic relations and agreed to meet in the United States at an early date.