Obama, Abe declare new era in US-Japan alliance

President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have declared a new era in their countries' alliance.

During a news conference held after Tuesday's meeting between the two leaders at the White House, the two leaders pledged to cooperate to realize the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement between the U.S. and Pacific nations. However, both leaders acknowledged the obstacles to a deal thatremain in the U.S. and Japan.

Meanwhile, Obama and Abe's remarks at the joint conference made clear that Abe's state visit to Washington is unlikely to yield a final breakthrough on a fresh apology for Japan's legacy of the so-called“comfort women,” who were forced to serve in Japanese military brothels during World War Two.

Abe is set to become the first Japanese prime minister to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress on Wednesday, when he is likely to encounter strong Democratic resistance to the TPP as well as to face pressure to atone for Japan's wartime atrocities.