U.S. President George W. Bush congratulated new Japanese leader Shinzo Abe on his selection to become prime minister and said he looked forward to meeting him at an Asia-Pacific summit in November, the White House said yesterday. The president congratulated the prime minister on his election and said that he and Mrs. Bush look forward to seeing the prime minister and Mrs. Abe at APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) in Hanoi in November, national security spokesman Frederick Jones said. The two leaders, in a 12-minute telephone conversation, reaffirmed the continuing warmth and strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance, Jones said. They expressed their desire to further deepen and strengthen bilateral relations and global cooperation based on the advancement of deeply held common values of freedom, democracy, human rights, markets, and the rule of law. Japanese officials said earlier Wednesday that the two leaders had spoken and agreed to meet as soon as possible.
