TOKYO, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama met Friday with visiting U.S. President Barack Obama on a series of issues of common concern, such as Japan-U.S. alliance, support for Afghanistan and a nuclear-free world.

    At a press conference following the summit meeting, Obama said that the alliance between Japan and America will endure for the foreseeable future as a linchpin of the future of East Asia.

Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) and visiting U.S. President Barack Obama pose for photos prior to their meeting in Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 13, 2009. Barack Obama arrived Friday in Tokyo, kicking off a two-day visit to Japan. (Xinhua/Pool/Tomohiro Ohsumi) Photo Gallery>>>

    "I began my trip here in Tokyo because the U.S. Japan alliance is a foundation for peace and prosperity throughout East Asia," Obama said at a news conference after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.

    "I am confident that we will continue to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance for future generations," he said.

    The news conference was a reaffirmation of the strong ties between the two nations, but the tensions on the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) were clear. That agreement, which was signed by the former ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the administration of President George W. Bush, will see around 8,000 U.S. forces remain in Okinawa after 2012, and the Japan foot part of the bill to transfer the rest to Guam.

    "It will be a very difficult issue, but as time goes by I think it will become more difficult to resolve the issue. So we understand we need to resolve the issue as soon as possible and we will work to do that," said Hatoyama, for his part.

    "By doing so we will be able to further strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance," the Japanese premier said.

    On Afghanistan, Obama said he was deeply grateful for Japan's efforts to help achieve peace and stability in the region.

    "The prime minister and I discussed our cooperation on Afghanistan and Pakistan, and I thanked Yukio for the commitment of 5 billion dollars for rebuilding in Afghanistan and Pakistan," Obama said.

    Japan has opted to pull out of a refueling mission in the Indian Ocean that assists the U.S. and its allies fighting in Afghanistan. It has pledged instead to send a maximum of 5 billion dollars in aid to the region to help the international effort.

    The two leaders emphasized their unity on hoping for a non-nuclear future, though Obama stated that the United States would maintain nuclear weapons for the foreseeable future.

    According to a joint statement issued after their meeting, Japan and the United States agreed to coordinate their efforts to realize "a world without nuclear weapons" and toward that end, they will urge nuclear states to reduce the role of nuclear weapons in their security strategies.

    The declaration states the two countries "welcome the renewed international attention and commitment to achieve the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons and confirm their determination to realize such a world."

    They also called on states with nuclear weapons to respect the principles of "transparency, verifiability and irreversibility" in the process of nuclear disarmament.

    Concerning the relocation of the U.S. military base, high-pitched voices, however, were also heard from Okinawa.

    In their editorials on their front pages Friday, two major Okinawa dailies of The Ryukyu Shimpo and The Okinawa Times urged U.S. President Barack Obama to change Washington's policies on military bases, including the Futemma airfield relocation issue, on the southern island.

    "It is said that the Nobel Prize Committee held your initiatives and approach toward nuclear disarmament in high regard when deciding to award you the Peace Prize. If you are truly committed to your own principle and stance, please take heed also of the plight of the Okinawans, who have long lived in anguish under the 'nuclear umbrella,'" The Ryukyu Shimpo said.

    And The Okinawa Times said: "We would like to encourage both leaders to help Okinawa transform itself from a military strongpoint to an island of peace."

    Also on Friday, Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada said that he will visit Okinawa on Sunday and Monday, apparently to study the feasibility of his controversial idea of transferring a major local U.S. Marine airfield to the nearby U.S. Kadena Air Base.

    Okada made the announcement shortly after Japan and the United States agreed to set up a ministerial-level working group to discuss the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futemma Air Station.

    Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa told reporters the same day that he thinks the working group should start the discussion "early next week" to reach a conclusion "in time."

    Obama arrived in Tokyo earlier in the day for a two-day visit to Japan. He is scheduled to deliver a speech on U.S. policy toward Asia and meet with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko on Saturday.

    Japan is the first leg of the U.S. president's four-country Asian tour, which will also take him to Singapore, China and South Korea.