Obama calls incoming Japan PM, close ties stressed

Tuesday, 18 December 2012 

TOKYO: US President Barack Obama spoke to Japan's incoming prime minister Shinzo Abe, with both sides stressing the importance of close ties, the White House said.

Abe, a former prime minister who is the head of the conservative opposition Liberal Democratic Party, and Obama "reaffirmed the importance of the US-Japan alliance as the cornerstone of peace and security in the region", it said.

"The president and Mr Abe discussed ongoing efforts to enhance bilateral security cooperation as well as deepening economic ties," White House spokesman Jay Carney said in a statement.

"They also agreed on the importance of close US-Japan cooperation on pressing regional and global issues."

Abe's LDP crushed the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, led by Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, in Sunday's polls, promising that he would improve Tokyo's alliance with Washington in a bid to ensure stability in Asia Pacific.

In a face of a confident China, Abe said a closer link with the United States would serve as a foundation for Tokyo to gain stronger diplomatic influence.

After speaking with Obama, Abe Tuesday told officials at Japan's business lobby Keidanren that he would deepen Japan's only alliance, Jiji Press reported.

"I plan to tackle regional and global challenges together with the United States," he told them, according to Jiji.

Abe said Monday he wanted to go to the United States in late January, after Obama's new cabinet members start work, for his first foreign visit after taking office, expected on December 26.

Abe went to China for his first foreign visit during his 2006-2007 tenure as prime minister.