Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) leader Yukio Hatoyama, who is set to be elected Japan's prime minister, discussed the Japan-U.S. ties via telephone with President Barack Obama early Thursday.

During the telephone conversation, Hatoyama said that he intends to foster "constructive, future-oriented Japan-U.S. relations."

The two nations need to cooperate closely in a bid to improve economic conditions, Hatoyama said.

And the U.S. president extended his congratulations on the DPJ for its victory in Sunday's lower house election, the DPJ chief told reporters afterward.

On Sunday, the DPJ snatched 308 of 480 seats in the historic general election, ending more than 50 years of almost unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama is set to be voted in as the next prime minister on Sept. 16, as the government and ruling parties decided to convene a special four-day Diet session through that day.

On Wednesday, the DPJ launched talks with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's New Party (PNP) over forming a tripartite coalition.

(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2009)