Prosperous China a source of prosperity for all nations: Obama

TOKYO, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama said here Saturday that a strong and prosperous China can be a source of prosperity for all nations and the United States does not want to contain China.

Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a speech on U.S. policy toward Asia at Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Nov. 14, 2009.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

"No one nation can meet the challenges of the 21st century on its own. We welcome China's appearance on the world stage," the president said while delivering a speech in Tokyo.

"The U.S. does not seek to contain China, the rise of a strong and prosperous China can be a source of prosperity for all nations," said Obama.

The U.S. president said his nation welcomes China's entrance to the world stage, but would always deal with the nation with its own interests in mind.

Obama declared his nation will aim to sustain leadership in Asia while working in tandem with nations such as China.

"As America's first Pacific president, I promise you that this pacific nation will strengthen and sustain our leadership in this part of the world," said Obama, referring to the future role he hopes the United States will play in the region.

Obama's speech was met with rapturous applause from a large audience of Japanese and Americans who had come to hear the leaders peak shortly before he headed off to Singapore for a summit of ASEAN nations to be held in Singapore.

The president said he had a message for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK): "We will not be cowed by threats." He also offered to support the country if it "returned to the six-party talks and to nuclear nonproliferation."

On the economy, the president said he hoped the world would be able to work together to create a system in which the cycle of boom and bust was a thing of the past. He also said that future growth needed to be combined with environmental protections.

"All nations must meet their responsibilities on the environment," the president said. "Each of us must do what we can to grow our economies without hurting our planet."

He also expressed his hopes that more nations would begin to take on open market policies and develop a free trade system. "For decades, the U.S. has had one of the most open markets in the world. In the new era, other countries opening markets will be key to our future," Obama said.

The U.S. president is in Japan on the first leg of a nine-day tour of Asia that is seen as one of the most important of his presidency so far, with topics such as the new government in Japan, the growth of China and the future of the global economy on the agenda.