Obama Congratulates New Japanese Prime Minister

President Barack Obama congratulated Yoshihiko Noda, Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister, Tuesday.

“The relationship between the United States and Japan is based on common interests and common values, and I look forward to working with Prime Minister Noda to tackle the broad range of economic and security issues that require our attention,” Obama said in a statement.

Noda, a member of the Democratic Party of Japan, assumes his leadership role shortly after Naoto Kan resigned in the face of mounting popularity.