Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Friday vowed to cooperate closely in tackling such issues as the ongoing financial crisis, Afghanistan and the Korea Peninsula, Kyodo News Agency quoted a Japanese government official as saying.

During their telephone talks, Aso and Obama agreed to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and confirmed to make arrangements for their meeting at an early date, the unnamed official was quoted as saying.

Aso informed Obama of his willingness to visit the United States for their meeting immediately after attending the Nov. 22- 23 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in Lima, according to government sources.

Obama said he would like to build a personal relationship with Aso, and Aso responded that he shares the same view, according to the official.

Obama told Aso that he feels a strong affinity to Japan and added that he knows well about the Japanese city of Obama in Fukui Prefecture, where a rally was held to congratulate the victory of the namesake President-elect.

Aso congratulated Obama on his victory in the U.S. presidential race and the two also agreed to closely cooperate in such global issues as climate change, Kyodo said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2008)