Tokyo, Nov 13 (IANS) US President Barack Obama said Friday that the alliance between Japan and the US will endure for a foreseeable future of East Asia, Xinhua news agency reported.
“I began my trip here in Tokyo because the US-Japan alliance is a foundation for peace and prosperity throughout East Asia,” Obama said at a news conference after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama. “I am confident that we will continue to strengthen the US-Japan alliance for future generations,” he said.

The news conference was a reaffirmation of the strong ties between the two nations, but the tensions on the ‘Status of Forces Agreement’ were perceptible.

“It will be a very difficult issue, but as time goes by I think it will become more difficult to resolve the issue. So we understand we need to resolve the issue as soon as possible and we will work to do that,” said Hatoyama.

Obama said that it was essential to work towards reaching an agreement on this issue.

He arrived Friday in Tokyo, kicking off a two-day visit to Japan.

Japan is the first leg of Obama’s four-country Asian tour, which will also take him to Singapore, China and South Korea.