The United States and Japan have vowed to renew and deepen their ties.

Speaking at the start of a seven-day tour of Asia, US President Barack Obama made the announcement in Tokyo alongside Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
 

The two leaders also discussed the US military bases in Japan. Prime Minister Hatoyama is seeking new agreements regarding the bases.
 

On Saturday, the US president will travel to Singapore to attend a summit of ASEAN, the ten-country Associations of South East Asian Nations.

The most important part of Mr Obama's trip will be the three days he will then spend in China. Topping the agenda there are the economic relations between the two countries, as well as regional relations and North Korea's nuclear programme.

The president ends his trip in South Korea.

President Obama and Prime Minister Hatoyama Tokyo (Photo: EPA)