Those past disputes probably explain why former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, though a political soul mate of then-President Ronald Reagan, was never invited to address a joint session of Congress. Today, however, the bilateral relationship is very different.
这些昔日的纠纷也许能够解释为何前首相中曾根康弘尽管与时任美国总统里根惺惺相惜，但从未获邀在国会两院联席会议上发表演讲。但是，今天，两国关系已今非昔比。日本的经济利益与美国联系得更加紧密——并且即将加入美国发起的跨太平洋合作伙伴关系（Trans-Pacific Partnership，由环太平洋十多个国家组成的大型自由贸易区）——双方对亚洲的战略观点也接近一致。