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· Obama urges Americans to take responsibility for future

In his first address to a joint session of Congress, US President Barack Obama vowed Tuesday that his nation would emerge stronger from its economic crisis.

The weight of the current crisis "will not determine the destiny of this nation," said Obama. 

US President Barack Obama (front) addresses a joint session of US Congress, on Capitol Hill, Washington D.C., the United States, Feb. 24, 2009. [Xinhua]

"While our economy may be weakened and our confidence shaken, though we are living through difficult and uncertain times, tonight I want every American to know this: We will rebuild, we will recover," he stressed.

"And the United States of America will emerge stronger than before," the president insisted.

The speech came a week after Obama signed a stimulus bill of 787 billion US dollars and two days before Congress receives a summary of his 2010 budget.

The address touched lightly on foreign policy, so Obama could focus largely on the nation's urgent economic and fiscal crisis.

Obama called on Americans to "pull together" and "take responsibility for our future."