ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
STORY: United States President Barack Obama wrapped up his visit to Japan early Friday (April 25) with a Joint Statement on security and trade.
Minutes before taking off on Airforce One to South Korea, the United States and Japan announced a joint statement in which they mention that the key security treaty covered islands at the centre of a territorial dispute between Japan and China, and said they would also continue working towards a bilateral trade deal after talks.
Before leaving Obama also met with Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko who saw him off from his hotel, a rare event as normally foreign dignitaries go to the Imperial Palace for events.
In the joint statement, issued shortly before U.S. President Barack Obama left Japan after a state visit, the two nations said they shared strong concern over China's air defence zone in the East China Sea but reaffirmed interest in building productive ties with Beijing.
