Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has left Tokyo to Washington on Sunday for a four-day visit in the United States to hold talks with U.S. President Barack Obama.

The two leaders are likely to discuss security and economic issues aiming to strengthen bilateral ties and promote stability in Asia.

The local media said the two countries may agree on a basic strategy regarding the realignment of U.S. military forces in Japan based on a new report released Friday, saying the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station will be dealt with separately from other issues.

Noda will be the first Japanese premier to meet with Obama formally in the U.S. capital since the Democratic Party of Japan took power in September 2009.