"Prosperity is nothing less than the seed bed for peace," he said. South Korean university student Lee Ye-in performs on a Japanese rising sun flag in Seoul during a rally to denounce Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's address to a joint session of the US Congress. Credit:AP With a nod to tensions surrounding China's rising influence he said, "Involving countries in Asia-Pacific whose backgrounds vary, the US and Japan must take the lead… to build a market that is fair, dynamic, sustainable and is also free from the arbitrary intentions of any nations." But Mr Abe also argued that Trans-Pacific Partnership was crucial to regional security, as it enshrined "the rule of law, democracy and freedom". "Long term, its strategic value is awesome, we should never forget that.

"The TPP covers an area that accounts for 40 per cent of the world economy and one third of global trade. We must turn the area into a region for lasting peace and prosperity. "That is for the sake of our children and our children's children," he said to applause. This language echoes a change in tone in TPP discussion from the White House. Where once the President was careful to emphasise only the treaty's global economic benefits, as Democratic Party resistance to the deal has stiffened, the administration has increasingly linked it to national security. Mr Abe welcomed the American diplomatic "rebalance" – or pivot - to Asia and the Pacific, and tacitly acknowledged that the TPP had become central to its success. "I will state clearly, we will support the US effort first, last and throughout," he said.

He noted that Japan was in lockstep with its goals of strengthening ties between democratic nations of the region, including Australia. "Japan has deepened its strategic relations with Australia and India. We are enhancing our co-operation across many fields the countries of ASEAN and the Republic of Korea." And he cited the importance of improving labour and environmental standards in the region, another argument the Obama administration employs in supporting the treaty. "In the Pacific market, we cannot overlook sweatshops or burdens on the environment," Mr Abe said. The White House believes that once the bilateral trade agreement with Japan is secured, the negotiations on the broader TPP will be largely complete. This is an outcome Mr Obama wants to secure before the American presidential election saps political energy at the end of the year.

Despite the warmth of Mr Abe's reception and the carefully calibrated harmony, the visit has so far failed to produce that breakthrough, particularly on competing claims to rice and auto markets. Follow FairfaxForeign on Twitter