[Provisional Translation]

Dear Mr. President,

​I would like to express my heartfelt congratulations to you on the occasion of your inauguration as the President of the United States of America.

​It was a great pleasure for me to have a candid exchange of views at your home in New York in November. I look forward to working hands in hands with you to ensure peace and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and to address various challenges the international community faces.

In the 21st Century, while the Asia-Pacific region is the source of the global economic growth, the security environment of the region is becoming severer. The Japan-U.S. Alliance, bound in universal values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, is playing even greater role. The Japan-U.S. Alliance is the linchpin of Japan’s foreign and security policies. I would like to further strengthen the unwavering tie between Japan and the United States based on the relationship of trust between us the two leaders.

I very much look forward to meeting with you again at the earliest possible occasion to discuss various challenges of the region and the world, and to send messages to the world on the importance of the Japan-U.S. Alliance.

​Please accept my best wishes for your great success, as well as for health and happiness of you and your family.

Sincerely,

Shinzo Abe
Prime Minister of Japan