Ahead of his maiden Asia visit next week, US President Donald Trump yesterday spoke over the phone with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and discussed the importance of promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region. <br/><br/>The White House said in a readout of the call that both the leaders affirmed the importance of promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region and maintaining close coordination between the United States and Japan and with the international community, to maximise pressure on North Korea.<br/>Trump heads to Asia on a 12-day trip on November 3 with Japan being his first stop. Thereafter, he would travel to South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines