Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi stressed Thursday on the importance of Japan-US alliance in dealing with international affairs after US President George W. Bush secured his second term.
"The Japan-US alliance is the foundation for Japan's security," he said, adding he intended to "further strengthen" the alliance.
"I want to push forward the bilateral relations based on the mutual trust and friendship already built with President Bush," the premier said.
Foreign Ministry Nobutaka Machimura also expressed the desire to continue to build a strong alliance.
Katsuya Okada, leader of the largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan, told a press conference that he hoped the United States will "place more importance than previously to international cooperation and work toward world peace and stability."
Japanese Communist Party Chairman Kazuo Shii called on the next Bush administration to make a "radical shift in Iraq policies," citing the war on Iraq as one of the key issues that divided the United States in the presidential election.
The oppositions are demanding the government not to extend the Self-Defense Forces' mission in Iraq, which is to end on Dec. 14.
As a staunch ally of Washington, Japan has been supporting US military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Tokyo is a major donor to the post-war Iraq and contributed around 500 troops to help in US-led reconstruction. The Japanese warships are cruising in the Indian Ocean to support US operations against terrorism.
The two countries are engaged in a realignment on US troops in Japan. Bush's reelection would be helpful for an early conclusion on that issue.
In addition, Japan is moving toward introducing US-made missile defense systems in the near future.