Obamas Tokyo Speech in EnglishTopicsDemocracy KeywordsBarack ObamaAsia-PacificUS-Japan allianceeconomic growthnuclear nonproliferation 13 November 2009 President Obama on Issues Affecting Asia-Pacific

ister Hatoyama and the Japanese people, in the beauty of this city, and in the strength of our alliance.

As I said earlier today at the Emperor’s Palace, the United States and Japan are not separated by this great ocean; we are bound by it. We share common interests and values, and we have a deep and abiding friendship. And that is why I have come to Tokyo on this trip — to reaffirm the enduring alliance between our nations and to work together on the challenges of our time.

First and foremost is the challenge of promoting economic growth and creating jobs for our people. Both Japan and the United States have faced difficult economic times in recent years. But despite these challenges, our countries have continued to innovate, to invest in education and technology, and to build stronger and more competitive industries.

That is why I believe that the United States and Japan can lead the way in creating a new era of economic growth and opportunity in the Asia-Pacific region. We must work together to open markets, to increase exports, and to promote investment and entrepreneurship. And we must do so in a way that is fair and sustainable, that respects workers’ rights and the environment, and that benefits small businesses and entrepreneurs as well as large corporations.

Second, we must continue to work together to promote nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament. As the only nation to have suffered a nuclear attack, Japan has a special responsibility to lead the way in reducing the threat of nuclear weapons. And as the world’s two largest economies and military powers, Japan and the United States have a unique opportunity to lead by example and to work with other nations to strengthen the international nonproliferation regime.

Finally, we must continue to promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world. These are not just American values or Japanese values; they are universal values that are essential to the progress and prosperity of all nations. And as we work to strengthen our own democracies at home, we must also support those who are struggling to build free and open societies abroad.

So let me say once again how honored I am to be here in Tokyo, and how much I look forward to working with Prime Minister Hatoyama and the Japanese people to build a brighter future for our two nations and for the Asia-Pacific region as a whole. Thank you very much. Arigatou gozaimasu. (Applause.