Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi promised today that his country would stand by the US in its new war on terrorism.
Mr Koizumi was the latest in a parade of world leaders to confer with President Bush.
"We Japanese ... stand by the United States to fight terrorism. We can make sure of this global objective," he said in English, adding he had enjoyed a "fantastic" meeting at the White House.
"We must fight terrorism with determination and patience," he said.
Mr Bush, who has strived to build a personal friendship with Mr Koizumi, said he was "really pleased and honored" the prime minister had travelled from Japan to express "solidarity with the American people in our joint battle against terrorism."
"I know he's got a determination and a strong will and he knows I am determined and willful in this struggle," Mr Bush said.
A new poll in Japan showed around 70 per cent of the public favours mobilizing the military to support US forces.
A Japanese Foreign Ministry spokesman earlier said Japan's military, barred from using force overseas by the post-war constitution, could provide logistical support to the United States in any military actions targeting terrorism.
AFP