U.S. president arrives in Japan for 2-day visit

TOKYO, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama arrived Friday in Tokyo, kicking off a two-day visit to Japan.

U.S. President Barack Obama arrives at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2009 for a two-day visit to Japan.(Xinhua/Ren Zhenglai)

Obama is scheduled to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in a summit meeting later in the day with the strengthening of bilateral alliance and support for Afghan reconstruction likely topping the agenda.

Also among the main topics for discussion is Japan-U.S. cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region as well as on global issues.

According to local media reports, the two leaders will characterize the Japan-U.S. alliance, which is regarded as the foundation of the two nations' relationship, as the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

They are also expected to agree to closely cooperate to move toward a "low-carbon society" in which business can coexist without harming the environment on a global scale.

Obama's visit, however, is overshadowed by tensions on a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that the U.S. has signed to allow around 8,000 troops to remain in Okinawa in southern Japan, which the government has said it would like to change.

On the environment, Hatoyama stated in New York in September that his country will aim to reduce emissions that are damaging to the environment to 25 percent of their 1990 levels by 2020.

In the buildup to an international climate conference in Copenhagen next month, Hatoyama and Obama are likely to discuss Japan's 25 percent cut and look to reach agreements that will allow the two nations to work together to combat climate change.

Afghanistan is also a subject likely to take priority during the talks.

Japan has said that it will not renew the current law allowing its ships to refuel U.S. and allied troops based in Afghanistan in the Indian Ocean in January next year.