Political Quotes

“Today I extend my welcome to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, who is making his first trip to the United States as Prime Minister this week. The U.S.-Japan alliance has been one of the great successes of the postwar era, and Japan's remarkable achievements and constructive role in world affairs over the past 60 years are a great testament to the Japanese people. As the world's two wealthiest democracies, the U.S. and Japan, have a shared interest in promoting security and prosperity in Asia and around the world--shared interests that rest on a bedrock of shared values: in democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and free markets. As one of America's closest allies, Japan today plays a vital role in working with the United States in maintaining regional security and stability, promoting prosperity, and meeting the new security challenges of the 21st century. Japan's role in the Six Party Talks--supporting efforts to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program and return to the nonproliferation treaty and IAE safeguards--has been essential. And beyond North Korea, Japan today is playing a leading role in the architecture of the Asia-Pacific region, including participating in peace keeping operations, and in building stable and enduring structures for cooperative regional security.”