US to remain ‘strong’ in Indo-Pacific: Biden

‘America is rising anew’: Prez on maiden address to joint Cong session

Washington, April 29: Declaring that “America is rising anew” under his leadership, President Joe Biden has told China that the US will maintain a “strong” military presence in the Indo-Pacific “not to start conflict, but to prevent one” as Beijing became more assertive in the strategically vital region.

Using his maiden address to the joint session of Congress on the eve of his 100th day in office to make a strong case for huge new investments and tax reforms to overhaul the US economy and rebuild the middle class, Mr Biden said, “We have acted to restore the people’s faith in our democracy to deliver.”

In a historic moment, vice-president Kamala Harris — the first woman to hold the second highest office — and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi both sat behind Mr Biden during Wednesday night’s prime time address. It was the first time two women appeared behind the president during a speech to Congress.

After addressing Ms Harris in his opening remarks as “Madam VicePresident”, Mr Biden added: “No president has ever said those words from this podium. And it’s about time.”

In his 65-minute address, Mr Biden spent the majority of his time to discuss his economic and infrastructure plans for the nation, his foreign policy vision for America's role in the world and the coronavirus pandemic and other health care issues.

“Life can knock us down. But in America, we never stay down. In America, we always get up. And today, that’s what we’re doing: America is rising anew,” he said.

Life can knock us down. But in America, we never stay down. In America, we always get up. And today, that’s what we're doing: America is rising anew.

— Joe Biden, US President