Tokyo - US President Barack Obama Saturday said the United States is seeking "pragmatic cooperation" with the emerging economic giant of China and welcomed its growing role and responsibility on the world stage. At the same time, he sought to calm worries that Washington's "deeper relationships with China" means a "weakening of our bilateral alliances."
Obama was speaking to Japanese citizens, scientists and business people at Suntory Hall in Tokyo, a day after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
Obama also declared Washington's intent to renew its active role in the Asian region after being disengaged in recent years, an apparent reference to his predecessor George W Bush's distrust of international organizations.
The US president noted Beijing's critical partnership in jump- starting economic recovery, its promotion of security and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan and its commitment to global non-proliferation and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
"So the United States does not seek to contain China," Obama said. "On the contrary, the rise of a strong, prosperous China can be the source of strength for the community of nations."
Obama said that nations should not fear the success of another.
"Cultivating spheres of cooperation - not competing spheres of influence - will lead to progress in the Asia Pacific," Obama said.
Obama is to meet Tuesday and Wednesday with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing.
Later Saturday, Obama is to meet with Japan's emperor and empress before departing for Singapore, where he will attend the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Coperation (APEC) forum and meet with the 10 leaders of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
He plans to meet on the sidelines with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Singapore.
