Aso confident of tackling global economic crisis with Obama+

TOKYO, Jan. 21 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said Wednesday that he is confident of working with new U.S. President Barack Obama to overcome the global economic crisis
after hearing the president's inauguration address.
''I felt that our perception of the global economic crisis coincides,'' Aso
told reporters, adding that Obama's approach to tackling the crisis is
basically the same with his.
''I have renewed confidence that the world's largest and the second largest
economies can work together by joining hands,'' Aso said, referring to the U.S.
and Japanese economies.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura called Obama's speech ''very
impressive,'' saying that he took especial note of the United States' desire to
shift from unilateralism and aim for cooperation with other countries.
He also said at a press conference that he is highly appreciative of Obama's
positive stance on the elimination of nuclear threats. ''Cooperation with the
new administration will become important'' as Japan, the only country to have
experience nuclear attack, needs to play a leading role in efforts to seek
nuclear disarmament, he said.
On the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, Aso said there is no change in the
government policy of aiming to complete the relocation of the U.S. Marine
Corps' Futemma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture by 2014.
Earlier in the day, Aso issued a statement congratulating the new U.S.
administration under Obama and pledged to make the Japan-U.S. alliance stronger
by joining hands with the new president.
''Japan and the United States are allies sharing universal values and strategic
interests,'' Aso said in the statement. ''I am confident that Japan and the
United States, which are in the position of leading the world, can create a
better future, by putting together our expertise, will, passion and strategy.''
Aso also expressed hope that Obama ''will exercise outstanding leadership and
achieve great success, leading his distinguished team in each field including
foreign policy, national security, economy, environment/energy, in overcoming
the serious economic situation and other difficult challenges.''
Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States Tuesday at the
inaugural ceremony on Capitol Hill, becoming the first black president in U.S.
history.
Following the inauguration, the Japanese government plans to dispatch senior
officials, mainly from the Foreign Ministry, to the United States to reconfirm
the bilateral alliance in the areas of the financial crisis, reconstruction of
Afghanistan and global warming.
Kawamura said that the Japanese government is negotiating with the United
States to arrange a meeting between Aso and Obama, and would like to realize
the talks before a financial summit in London on April 2.
Hiroyuki Hosoda, secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said
the economic slump that began in the United States ''has hit employment and the
auto industry in Japan.''
''I expect the U.S. side to tackle the issue steadily, and Japan will spare no
effort (in supporting it),'' Hosoda said.
From the opposition bloc, Yukio Hatoyama, secretary general of the Democratic
Party of Japan, said in his statement that his party hopes to establish ''an
equal partnership'' with the United States.
==Kyodo