2010-06-11 16:00

TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan vowed to deepen Japan-US alliance in his first policy address Friday, saying the alliance is the "axis" of Japan's foreign policy.

Japan's new Prime Minister Naoto Kan delivers his keynote speech at the lower house of parliament in Tokyo June 11, 2010. [Agencies]

"The Japan-US alliance is not only vital for Japan's defense, but also an asset for the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region," Kan said.

The newly-elected prime minister also said Japan will deepen the strategic mutually beneficial relations with China.

On the relocation of the US Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, Kan reiterated that he will honor the agreement reached late last month with Washington.

But Kan said he will also try to reduce the burden shouldered by the prefecture in hosting the air base and the bulk of US forces in Japan under a bilateral security accord.

"The relocation of Futenma US air base, return and relocation of some of the US marines to Guam has to be realized at any rate," he said.

Kan said he will visit the prefecture on June 23 to attend a ceremony to mark the 65th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Okinawa, in which more than 200,000 were killed during the closing stages of World War II.