- Title: JAPAN: Obama attends Japanese emperor's banquet
- Date: 24th April 2014
- Summary: TOKYO, JAPAN (APRIL 24, 2014) (REUTERS) JAPANESE EMPEROR, AKIHITO, AND EMPRESS, MICHIKO, WAITING FOR ARRIVAL OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, BARACK OBAMA AKIHITO WAITING FOR OBAMA U.S. PRESIDENTIAL MOTORCADE ARRIVING AT MAIN ENTRANCE OF IMPERIAL PALACE DOOR OF OBAMA'S VEHICLE OBAMA WALKING TOWARDS AKIHITO AND MICHIKO/GREETING THEM OBAMA GREETING MICHIKO OBAMA TALKING/
- Embargoed: 9th May 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Japan
- Country: Japan
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAEP5CI98APYABZ65AG6X14ZA26
- Story Text: U.S. President Barack Obama was welcomed to a state banquet by Japan's Emperor Akihito on Thursday (April 24), on the second day of the first full state visit to Japan by a U.S. President since 1996.
Obama is being treated to a display of pomp and ceremony meant to show that the U.S.-Japan alliance, the main pillar of America's security strategy in Asia, is solid at a time of rising tensions over growing Chinese assertiveness and North Korean nuclear threats.
Other guests invited to the dinner included U.S. ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Seated at the top table, Obama was welcomed by Akihito.
"Just as our distinguished presidential guest has come to visit as the cherry blossoms blossom, this stands as a sample of the friendship of two countries which I pray will continue to bloom," Akihito said.
Earlier in the day, he had held talks with Abe and assured Japan that Washington was committed to its defence, including of tiny isles at the heart of a row with China.
"In my work with Prime Minister Abe we have strengthened our alliance for today, an alliance which will never be broken," Obama said at the banquet.
He then quoted Akihito's own words delivered to the Japanese people immediately following an earthquake and tsunami which devastated northern Japan in March of 2011.
"Your Majesty we will never forget how in those trying days you spoke from this palace directly to the people of this nation and I would like to conclude by recalling the spirit of your message then because it also remains our wish tonight for the friendship and alliance between our two peoples. May we never give up hope, may we always take care of each other and may we continue to live strong for tomorrow," he said.
Obama arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday (April 23) at the start of a four-nation trip that comes at a time of rising tension in the region, and as the United States urges Japan's unpredictable neighbour North Korea not to conduct another nuclear test.
He flies to South Korea on Friday (April 25). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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