Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush have reaffirmed not only their five-year "very friendly relationship" but also the strong ties between the two nations in a meeting at the White House, their 13th summit -- which may be their last.
Mr. Koizumi leaves office in September and Mr. Bush, in January 2009. They discussed issues of immediate concern such as the nuclear weapons programs of North Korea and Iran, the apparent preparation by North Korea to launch a long-range missile, and the resolution of problems related to the past abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents.
Likely to have a long-range effect on bilateral relations is the idea for a "new U.S.-Japan Alliance of Global Cooperation for the 21st Century," spelled out in the two leaders' joint statement. It mentions "advancement of core universal values" embraced by liberal democracy as well as the importance of standing together against mutual threats. If and when Japan cooperates with the United States in support of this alliance, it should be mindful of ensuring that its actions are peaceful, fair and acceptable to peoples of different cultural and political backgrounds.