Obama arrives in Japan, starts Asian tour

TOKYO, April 23 (KUNA) - US President Barack Obama arrived in Tokyo Wednesday evening on the first leg of his four-nation Asian tour that will also take him to South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines. Obama is scheduled to have a private dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ahead of their formal summit meeting on Thursday.
Earlier in the day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Japan hopes to make the Abe-Obama meeting an opportunity to send a strong signal at home and abroad that the Japan-US alliance plays a leading role in promoting and contributing to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
The government spokesman also told a press conference that the two leaders likely to discuss the importance of respecting the rule of law and opposition to attempts to change the status quo by force amid China's increasing maritime activities in the region.
Suga also expressed hope that the two countries will enhance economic ties including the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement. "I hope the two leaders will deepen personal trust relationship between them," he added. Other topics in their meeting may include recent developments in North Korea and Ukraine.
According to public broadcaster NHK, a draft of a joint statement, which will be issued after the summit talks, points to a US strategic rebalance focusing on Asia and Japan's proactive pacifism.
The draft also touches on China's increasing maritime activities, and calls for a confidence-building mechanism, citing recent actions that have raised tensions in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.
It also expresses opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or claim maritime interests, and shows full support for diplomatic and legal efforts to settle maritime disputes, NHK reported.
In addition, Japan and the US aim to step up cooperation with partners including South Korea, Australia and India, the draft said. Furthermore, the two countries will deepen ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the draft said.
His three-day visit to Japan comes as Japan's relations with China and South Korea have been strained due to territorial disputes and differences over wartime history.
Abe has not held formal bilateral meetings with Chinese and South Korean leaders since taking office in December 2012.
Last month, Obama brokered a three-way summit in The Hague with Abe and South Korean President Park Geun-hye on the sidelines of an international conference, in his effort to urge the two countries to enhance dialogue.
It is Obama's third visit to Japan since taking office, with the last in 2010 when he attended a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Obama is the first US president to visit Japan as a state guest since Bill Clinton in 1996.
He is also scheduled to meet the Emperor and Empress at a ceremony at the Imperial Palace on Thursday. (end) mk.ibi