U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday congratulated Shinzo Abe, leader the Liberal Democratic Party, for the LDP's sweeping general election victory and said he expects to work closely with the new government.
"I congratulate Liberal Democratic Party President Shinzo Abe on his party's success in the elections in Japan today," Obama said in a statement.
"The U.S.-Japan alliance serves as the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and I look forward to working closely with the next government and the people of Japan on a range of important bilateral, regional and global issues," he said.