US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday called Japanese Foreign Minister Nabutoka Machimura to congratulate him on the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)'s victory in national elections, the State Department said.

"We congratulate all of those who won in the elections. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the new government of Japan, as we have in the past, on many bilateral regional and global issues," Ereli said at a press conference.

In response to questions about importance of the US-Japan relations, Ereli said "Japan is a close and valued partner of the United States."

The United States and Japan have been in close military and political ties. Japan has provided logistical support in Afghanistan and dispatched non-combat troops to Iraq, despite strong reservations in public opinion.

Source: Xinhua