Abe, Obama to cooperate on DPRK

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) President Shinzo Abe and US President Barack Obama yesterday agreed to closely cooperate on issues involving Democratic People's Republic of Korea, including a response to the recent launch of a long-range missile, LDP sources said.

In a 10-minute telephone conversation initiated by the White House, the two leaders agreed to prepare for a summit meeting in the United States in January.

Abe, who is expected to be elected prime minister at a special Diet session next week, is in the midst of making preparations to launch his administration.

After the call, he met with senior members of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) to explain his plans for economic stimulus measures by compiling a large supplementary budget for fiscal 2012. In the afternoon, Abe met with Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa at LDP headquarters.

Later, Abe and New Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi met for policy coordination talks aimed at forming a coalition government.

During his telephone conversation with Obama, Abe emphasised his intention to rebuild a relationship of mutual trust between the two countries.

"I hope to strengthen the Japan-US alliance, which I believe will contribute to peace and stability in Asia. I also think Japan and the United States should cooperate on global issues," Abe was quoted by LDP sources as telling Obama.

His emphasis on strengthening the bilateral alliance is apparently behind the decision to make his first official overseas trip as prime minister to the United States.

Abe also told Obama that Japan would steadily fulfill its responsibility, implying his willingness to have the nation exercise the right to collective self-defence.

He also called for cooperation in handling relations with China.

The prime minister-to-be said it was important for both countries to cooperate closely in dealing with such issues as the DPRK missile launch.

In response, Obama told Abe that the Japan-US alliance was crucial and he agreed bilateral cooperation should be deepened, the sources said.

In regard to Japan's possible participation in negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral trade agreement, Abe said he wanted to thoroughly grasp the details of the negotiations before making a decision on the matter. He said he would like to promote free trade to guarantee national interests.

Obama said he would like to continue candid talks with Abe, and called for stronger and broader cooperation between the two countries in the economic and political fields