Washington, Sep 2 (IANS): US President Barack Obama Thursday called Japan's new Prime Minister-elect Yoshihiko Noda to congratulate him on his election and stress on the friendship between the two countries, said a White House statement.
The statement said the two leaders underscored the "enduring nature of the US-Japan friendship and alliance, and its critical importance to the peace and stability of the Asia Pacific (region)", Xinhua reported.
Obama and Noda also pledged to work closely together to re-energize the global economy and promote strong, sustainable, and balanced growth, the White House said.
A former finance minister, Noda was voted Tuesday by Japan's parliament to be the country's sixth prime minister in five years following his election as the new leader of the governing Democratic Party of Japan.