Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has become the first foreign leader to meet President-elect Donald Trump.

The Japanese government released a photograph that showed Trump and Abe shaking hands at the gold-gilded Trump Tower residence in Manhattan.

They also confirmed his daughter Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner also attended the meeting.

After holding the meeting, Mr Abe told reporters their relationship will be based on trust, but could not disclose further contents because the talks were unofficial.

Mr Abe's meeting was intended to smooth relationships with the US following Trump's campaign rhetoric cast doubt on long-standing alliances.