Tokyo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - U.S. President Barack Obama has reaffirmed the commitment of his country for more cooperation with Asian nations and applauded China and its growing role in international affairs.
On the first leg of his Asian tour, that takes him from Japan to Singapore, China and South Korea, Obama also stressed the urgency that North Korea end its nuclear program, defining commitment to the U.S. Asian security "unshakeable". He has urged Pyongyang to return to six party talks, the only way to receive financial support.
Calling himself the first "president of the Pacific", in front of over 1,500 Japanese staff in Tokyo, he stressed that there is no "decline" of the American presence in the continent. Instead, Washington wants to work to strengthen alliances with Japan and South Korea and build new relationships with China and Indonesia, confirming the desire to participate in the free market of the "Trans-Pacific" area, which for now includes Chile, New Zealand, Singapore and Brunei and could muster up to 21 states in the region. Speaking of China, Obama said that "the growth of a strong and prosperous China can be a source of strength for the community of nations" and that "in a connected world ... nations need not fear the success of the other".
The U.S. president also said that his country "is not afraid to speak out loud on the fundamental values that we cherish." But so as not to irritate Beijing, he avoided mentioning any specific concerns about human rights and democracy. He has however urged Myanmar to greater openness, saying that "support of human rights offers a stable security, which can not be gained ain any other way".
Obama arrived in Japan yesterday and met with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, with whom he reaffirmed the commitment to review the alliance between the two nations and also promised a speedy solution to the problem of the military base in Okinawa which Japanese pacifists wants closed.
Before leaving for Singapore, for the APEC meeting (the summit for economic cooperation between countries in the Asia-Pacific region), the U.S. President paid a visit to Emperor Akihito and his wife Michiko.