SINGAPORE (AP):

President Barack Obama pressed on with his mission to repair America's global standing, telling Asians he was determined to engage them as equal partners in the economy, diplomacy and security.

In a 40-minute speech from Tokyo yesterday that ranged across the multitude of issues, the president declared the United States a "nation of the Pacific. Asia and the United States are not separated by this great ocean; we are bound by it".

From Japan, Obama flew to Singapore for a 21-nation summit of Asia-Pacific leaders. While Obama offered in his speech few specifics on one of the key issues for his fellow leaders - trade - the president did reach out warmly to China.

With China soon expected to overtake Japan as the world's No. 2 economy, Obama applauded Beijing's robust strides as a burgeoning economic giant.

"We welcome China's efforts to play a greater role on the world stage, a role in which their growing economy is joined by growing responsibility," Obama said in the speech to 1,500 prominent Japanese in a soaring downtown Tokyo concert hall.