US President Barack Obama says America is "all in" when it comes to the Asian century and will turn the full focus of the global power's trade and defence policies to the region.
Mr Obama on Thursday became the fourth American leader to address a special sitting of federal parliament and used a 30-minute speech before MPs and senators to focus on human rights, security, free trade to job creation.
The speech came after the president laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial and met with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
Mr Obama said he had made a deliberate and strategic decision for the US to play a larger and long-term role in the Asia-Pacific region, which is home to the rising economic giants of China and India.
"In this Asian century, the United States of America is all in," the president said.
A day after announcing with Prime Minister Julia Gillard a bolstered US Marine presence in Australia over the next five years, Mr Obama said security was an important part of greater US involvement in the region.
Cuts to US defence spending would not come at the expense of America's military presence in the Asia-Pacific.
"As we consider the future of our armed forces we have begun a review that will identify our most important strategic interests and guide our defence priorities and spending over the coming decade," he said.
"And here is what this region must know. As we end today's wars, I have directed my national security team to make our presence and missions in the Asia-Pacific a top priority."
In a pitch to American citizens and businesses in the region, Mr Obama said Asia - as the world's fastest growing region representing half the global economy - was critical to "creating jobs and opportunity for the American people".
The president also fired a shot across the bow of Asian nations, such as Burma, over human rights abuses and said America would be looking to Australia and other allies and trading partners to uphold the core principles of freedom and democracy.
But he offered an olive branch to China, which has expressed concern over the US Marines training agreement, saying the US was interested in a cooperative relationship.
"All of our nations have a profound interest in the rise of a peaceful and prosperous China," he said, adding that better communication would avoid "miscalculation".
"We will do this even as we continue to speak candidly to Beijing about the importance of upholding international norms and respecting the universal human rights of the Chinese people," he said.
Welcoming the president to parliament, Ms Gillard said the US and Australia shared "confidence and resolve".
She said the 60-year-old ANZUS treaty, which is being celebrated during Mr Obama's 26-hour visit, represented a friendship dedicated to the common values as well as a treaty.
"Mr President. We welcome you here as you come as an ally, a partner and friend," she said.
Mr Abbott told the president the US alliance remained the bedrock of Australia's security and the coalition would be happy to see a boost in Marine numbers as well as a new joint facility.
"Everyone in this parliament is a friend of the United States. We are all willing you to succeed," he said.
Mr Abbott also injected some domestic politicking into his speech, arguing that while the economic positions of the US and Australia strong, "Australia's danger is complacency" and "America's danger is political gridlock".
Mr Obama left parliament to visit Campbell High School in Canberra before he heads to Darwin this in the afternoon to speak to Australian troops.
