U.S. President Barack Obama will make a trip to Asia, including Japan and South Korea, in late April in a bid to promote his administration's commitment to the region, the White House said Wednesday.

Obama's trip to Japan, during which he will meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was arranged as Japan is seeking to demonstrate close bilateral ties in order to better deal with regional issues such as North Korea and a rising China.

Obama and Abe will discuss how to deepen their security and economic ties, including through the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement, and "expand our cooperation on a range of diplomatic challenges in Asia and globally," the White House said.