Washington: US President Barack Obama has expressed satisfaction over the accomplishments of his first term, describing it as a "busy and productive four years" and hoped the same for the next term beginning January 20.
"It`s been a busy and productive four years. And I expect the same for the next four years," Obama, told reporters here yesterday.
Obama was elected for the second four year term in November when he defeated Mitt Romney, the Republican candidate.
"I intend to carry out the agenda that I campaigned on -- an agenda for new jobs, new opportunity, and new security for the middle class," a confident and combative Obama said in his opening remarks.
"Right now, our economy is growing, and our businesses are creating new jobs, so we are poised for a good year if we make smart decisions and sound investments -- and as long as Washington politics don`t get in the way of America`s progress," said the US President.
Obama`s last press conference of his first term lasted for 52 minutes, during which he took seven questions.
The press conference - both his opening remarks and the question and answer session - was dominated by economic policies, in particular the debt issue, and the gun control laws.
The foreign policy did not even found a passing reference during the press conference held in the East Room of the White House.
"I said on the campaign, one component to growing our economy and broadening opportunity for the middle class is shrinking our deficits in a balanced and responsible way.
And for nearly two years now, I`ve been fighting for such a plan -- one that would reduce our deficits by USD 4 trillion over the next decade, which would stabilize our debt and our deficit in a sustainable way for the next decade," he said.
"That would be enough not only to stop the growth of our debt relative to the size of our economy, but it would make it manageable so it doesn`t crowd out the investments we need to make in people and education and job training and science and medical research -- all the things that help us grow," said Obama.
PTI
