Tokyo  - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso agreed with US President Barack Obama in a telephone conversation on Thursday to join hands in working for recovery from the global financial crisis, a Japanese media report said.

The two leaders agreed to hold a bilateral summit meeting at an early date, while Japan hopes to realize the talks before a financial summit in London in April and send Aso to the United States.

"It is very important for the world's number one and number two economies to join hands to tackle immediate global issues, including the global financial and economic situation, and deliver messages concerning their responses," Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura said at a press conference after the 10-minute phone conversation between Aso and Obama.

In two prior conversations, the two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism and global warming as well as strengthening the alliance.

During Thursday's talk, Tokyo and Washington also agreed to cooperate in resolving North Korean abduction cases of Japanese nationals and the denuclearization of the Stalinist state.

Japan had been concerned as to whether the US would continue to cooperate in pressuring North Korea to release Japanese citizens kidnapped in the 1970s and '80s.

Meanwhile, the United States has expressed its hope that Japan will support reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan rather than just offering slogans, Kyodo News Agency quoted a US government source as saying.

Obama has held telephone talks with leaders of more than 10 countries since his inauguration. (dpa)