Biden stresses importance of US-Japan alliance

WASHINGTON - US Vice President Joe Biden emphasized the need to keep building strong support for the US-Japan alliance on Thursday.

Biden made the remarks when meeting with Shigeru Ishiba, secretary general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, in Washington.

The two leaders underscored the importance of the US-Japan alliance to regional and global security and discussed steps that both countries have recently taken to impose costs on Russia over the Ukraine crisis, said a statement issued by the White House.

They also stressed the need to make efforts toward signing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, according to the statement.

US President Barack Obama wrapped up his three-day visit to Japan a week ago, a key move in pushing toward his "pivot to Asia" strategy.