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The United States aims to
strengthen its nearly fifty-year alliance with Japan, as part of an ongoing
effort to deepen engagement in Asia, said U.S. President Barack Obama, during a
joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
Calling their relationship a "foundation for security and prosperity"
for the Asia-Pacific region, President Obama said the two countries will seek
new ways to revitalize the alliance and refresh it for the 21st Century:
"I intend to make clear that the
United States is a Pacific nation ... the United States will strengthen our
alliances, build new partnerships, and we will be part of multilateral efforts
and regional institutions that advance regional security and prosperity. We
have to understand that the
future of the United States and Asia is inextricably linked."
Economic growth, job creation, nonproliferation, and clean energy are among the
issues the two nations will continue to work together on, said President Obama.
He also thanked the people of Japan and Prime Minister Hatoyama for commitments
of five billion dollars over the next five years toward civilian efforts in
Afghanistan and one billion dollars for Pakistan.
Japan is an ally in building an international consensus to stop the spread of
nuclear weapons. It stands with the U.S., said President Obama, in the effort against
nuclear proliferation:
"We discussed both North Korea
and the situation in Iran, recognizing that it's absolutely vital that both
countries meet their international obligations. If they do, then they can open
the door to a better future. If not, we will remain united in implementing U.N.
resolutions that are in place and continuing to work in an international
context to move towards an agenda of nonproliferation."
As part of this effort, the U.S. and Japan issued a joint statement calling for
a "world without nuclear weapons."
Climate change and economic stability are also issues the two countries will
work together on. President Obama said Japan and the U.S. will work to pave the
way for a successful outcome to the Copenhagen conference on climate change
next month and will discuss cooperation that will help rebalance the world
economy.
