RALEIGH -- North Carolina's Secretary of State was at the White House, Tuesday, for the arrival ceremony welcoming Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the United States.

Marshall says it's important to maintain relations and further strengthen the already strong ties between Japan and North Carolina.

"We have companies that invest here in North Carolina and employ people, and we have North Carolina companies who invest there and employ people there. So it's a small world."

Marshall says the ties between Japan and our nation and specifically North Carolina are both strong and friendly.