TOKYO, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda departed late Thursday for the United States for his first overseas visit after taking office in September.

    During the two day trip, Fukuda will hold summit talks with U.S. President George W. Bush and host with Bush a joint news conference shortly after, according to the Japanese foreign ministry.

    Fukuda is to reaffirm the Japan-U.S. alliance and explain to Bush the Japanese government's all-out efforts to resume the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean for the U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in and around Afghanistan, foreign ministry officials said.

    Kyodo News quoted Fukuda as telling reporters before embarking on the plane that he expects a frank exchange of ideas with Bush since a strong Japan-U.S. ally is important for Japan to determine its overall foreign policy.