CANBERRA - US President Barack Obama addressed Australia's Parliament in Canberra on Thursday, saying that the US sees future in the Asia-Pacific region, and wants more cooperation opportunities with China.

"As the world's fastest-growing region - and home to more than half the global economy - Asia is critical to achieving my highest priority: creating jobs and opportunity for the American people," Obama said while addressing a special sitting of members of parliament and senators in a packed House of Representatives.

Despite there were comments saying that the US is increasing its military presence in Australia due to the threat it felt on the rising China, Obama reaffirmed that this is not the picture.

He said the US sees prosperity in the region and seeks further cooperation with China, as many other nations do.

"With most of the world's nuclear powers and nearly half of humanity, this region will largely define whether the century ahead will be marked by conflict or cooperation, needless suffering or human progress," Obama said.

"As President, I've therefore made a deliberate and strategic decision - as a Pacific nation, the United States will play a larger and long-term role in shaping this region and its future, by upholding core principles and in close partnership with allies and friends," he said.