Japan's business leaders expressed hope Wednesday for deeper ties with the United States under the administration of re-elected U.S. President Barack Obama and also called on Washington to steer America away from the "fiscal cliff" looming at the end of the year.

"I sincerely congratulate President Obama on being re-elected," Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of Keidanren, said in a statement.

"I especially hope that (the United States) will continue to place emphasis on the Asia-Pacific strategy and further strengthen the Japan-U.S. relationship, which is the foundation of peace and stability for the region," he added.