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Japan's PM first to visit Obama US and Japan make economy pledge
(about 6 hours later)
US President Barack Obama has told Japan's PM Taro Aso that the alliance between their countries is the "cornerstone" of East Asian security. US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso have agreed to work together to stimulate economic demand and fight protectionism.
Mr Obama was speaking as Mr Aso arrived for talks with him at the White House, the first foreign leader to do so. At a meeting in Washington they also pledged to co-operate in diplomatic efforts over North Korea, a White House statement said.
The global downturn is expected to top the agenda as the US and Japan seek to revive their economies - respectively the world's largest and second-largest. Mr Aso was the first foreign leader to be received by the US president.
They will also discuss N Korean policy and Tokyo's support for Afghanistan. Before the talks Mr Obama said the alliance between the countries was the "cornerstone" of East Asian security.
The US and Japanese economies are respectively the world's largest and second-largest.
A statement following the White House talks said the two leaders "agreed to work closely and urgently... to stimulate demand at home and abroad, to help other countries respond to the global crisis, [and] to unfreeze credit markets".
"They agreed fully on the need to resist protectionism," the statement said.
Japan was one of the countries to express concern at a "Buy American" clause in the recently approved US stimulus package.
The clause said American-produced materials should be used for public works in the US, though it was watered down with a pledge not to violate trade agreements.
Afghanistan
Mr Aso said the US and Japan needed to work "hand in hand" on the global downturn, and that it was crucial to maintain confidence in the dollar as a key currency. The alliance that we have is the cornerstone of security in East Asia, it is one that my administration wants to strengthen US President Barack Obama
On North Korea, the two sides pledged to work through the process of six-party talks to end the country's nuclear weapons programme, and also to "deal with the problem of North Korea's missiles".
The meeting came amid fears that North Korea was preparing to test a long-range missile.
The two leaders also discussed global climate change, and Afghanistan.
A Japanese foreign ministry official said on Tuesday that Toyko would pay the salaries of 80,000 police officers in Afghanistan for six months, as part of its commitment to help rebuild the country.
The official said Japan would also provide funds to help build schools and hospitals, and provide a teacher-training programme.
Money from the projects will come from the $2bn (£1.3bn) Tokyo has pledged towards Afghan reconstruction since 2002.
Japanese concern
Ahead of the talks, Mr Obama spoke of the "strong partnership" between the US and Japan.
"The alliance that we have is the cornerstone of security in East Asia, it is one that my administration wants to strengthen," said Mr Obama"The alliance that we have is the cornerstone of security in East Asia, it is one that my administration wants to strengthen," said Mr Obama
"It is for that reason that the prime minister is the first foreign dignitary to visit me here in the Oval Office.""It is for that reason that the prime minister is the first foreign dignitary to visit me here in the Oval Office."
"I think it is testimony to the strong partnership between the United States and Japan," he said.
Mr Aso said the US and Japan needed to work "hand in hand" on the global downturn.
"I think we are the only two nations which are powerful enough to solve the very critical financial issues of the world," he said.
Mr Aso's trip follows a Tokyo visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.Mr Aso's trip follows a Tokyo visit by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The meeting comes as Mr Obama prepares for his first appearance before a joint session of Congress since taking office.
Mr Obama is expected to use the nationally televised address, at 2100 Washington time (0200 GMT), to explain his economic recovery plan and build public and political support for it.
Stimulus plan
The BBC's Richard Lister in Washington says there is concern in Japan that relations with the US have been in decline.The BBC's Richard Lister in Washington says there is concern in Japan that relations with the US have been in decline.
Japan's normally warm relationship with the Bush administration cooled when Washington removed North Korea from its list of states that sponsor terrorism.Japan's normally warm relationship with the Bush administration cooled when Washington removed North Korea from its list of states that sponsor terrorism.
Tokyo felt the move was premature, and it is also concerned that Japan's standing in the region is being eclipsed by China, our correspondent says.Tokyo felt the move was premature, and it is also concerned that Japan's standing in the region is being eclipsed by China, our correspondent says.
Mr Aso is expected to raise concerns about language in Washington's stimulus plan which pushes some sectors of the US economy to support American manufacturers.
A Japanese government spokesman said the prime minister would express his opposition to protectionism.
President Obama is expected to want to find out what more help Japan can offer in Afghanistan.
A Japanese foreign ministry official said on Tuesday that Toyko would pay the salaries of 80,000 police officers in Afghanistan for six months, as part of its commitment to help rebuild the country.
The official said Japan would also provide funds to help build schools and hospitals, and provide a teacher-training programme.
Money from the projects will come from the $2bn (£1.3bn) Tokyo has pledged towards Afghan reconstruction since 2002.