5:12 P.M. EDT

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  Let me officially welcome the opportunity to speak again with Prime Minister Kan.  We had an opportunity for intensive dialogue when we met together at the G8 in Toronto. And once again, we have reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance not only to regional stability, not only to the security of both our countries, but we believe it’s one of the cornerstones of peace and security throughout the world.

So we look forward to discussing further how we can strengthen this alliance in the 21st century, how our economic relationship can continue to improve for the prosperity of both our peoples, how we can address regional hotspots and tensions that may arise, but also how we can work as leaders together in dealing with international problems like climate change and nuclear nonproliferation.

Japan will also be hosting the APEC meeting this year, and I’m looking forward to traveling to Yokohama, and I’m looking very much to finding ways that we can work together to shape an architecture for prosperity and economic development in the Pacific region, where obviously both the United States and Japan have a deep and longstanding interest.

So, welcome.  I hope you enjoy your stay in New York.  And I look forward to my stay in Japan later this year.

END                    5:17 P.M. EDT