In phone call, Obama welcomes Naoto Kan, Japan’s new prime minister
By APSaturday, June 5, 2010
Obama congratulates new Japanese leader
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama telephoned Naoto Kan on Saturday to congratulate Japan’s new prime minister and promised to consult with him on the nuclear programs in North Korea and Iran.
“The two leaders agreed to work very closely together,” a White House statement said, adding they share the conviction that warm ties between Japan and the U.S. benefit both countries — and the world.
Kan is Japan’s sixth prime minister in four years. He was named to the post Friday, two days after Yukio Hatoyama stepped down. Their Democratic Party of Japan swept to power nine months ago, but Hatoyama swiftly lost popularity over a fundraising scandal and reversing a campaign promise to move a key U.S. Marine base off the southern island of Okinawa.
The White House statement made no mention of the Okinawa base, but Kan’s office quoted him as telling Obama he wants “to make strenuous efforts” on the issue.
Obama and Kan look forward to meeting each other later this month at a meeting in Canada of the leading industrial nations, the White House said.
An administration official added the leaders “hit it off well on a personal level.” They have similar backgrounds: Kan was a civic activist before running for a seat in Parliament, while Obama was a community organizer. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly about the phone call.
Tags: Asia, Barack Obama, East Asia, Japan, North America, United States, Washington, Yukio Hatoyama
