Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori offered his congratulations Thursday to U.S. President-elect George W. Bush and said he hopes to visit the United States "as quickly as possible" after Bush takes office in January.
Speaking to reporters at his official residence, Mori said: "I would like to congratulate the president-elect. He won a fierce election battle."
Government sources said later in the day that Mori's U.S. visit may come as early as Feb. 10. They added, however, that the date is still uncertain, since Bush may have some difficulty launching his administration in January.