JAPAN: The White House yesterday welcomed Shinzo Abe's election as the leader of Japan's ruling party, saying the US hoped to work with him to strengthen further the US-Japan alliance. Abe's LDP win sets the stage for him to succeed Junichiro Koizumi as prime minister. Koizumi has been one of President Bush's staunchest allies.
Mr Abe (52) has pledged to make his country a more robust force on the world stage.
The son of a foreign minister and grandson of a prime minister, Abe defeated his two opponents by winning 464 of the 702 votes counted in the Liberal Democratic party election.
He promised to push ahead with economic reforms, make Tokyo a world leader, pursue summit meetings with both China and South Korea, and keep Japan in the international fight against terrorism. "I want to make Japan a country that is trusted and loved by the countries of the world, and one that asserts leadership," said Abe, who is currently chief cabinet secretary.