US, Japanese leaders to discuss Indo-Pacific Friday
TOKYO: US President Joe Biden will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida virtually on Friday, the White House said, as the two countries seek to further deepen their ties amid China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
The announcement came after Mr Kishida, who took office in October, gave up on visiting the United States for in-person talks with Mr Biden before the Japanese parliament started its regular session yesterday, deciding to focus on the Covid-19 response at home instead.
“The meeting will highlight the strength of the US-Japan alliance, which is the cornerstone of peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific and around the world,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement released on Sunday.
Mr Biden is looking forward to working with Mr Kishida to advance their “shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific” and partnering on new and emerging technologies, including through the Quad, Ms Psaki said, referring to a group of four major IndoPacific democracies that also include Australia and India.
The two leaders are also expected to discuss further cooperation on combating the coronavirus pandemic and climate change issues, according to the White House.
In Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno echoed the view, saying that he expects the two to confirm the importance of a closer Japan-US alliance and cooperation in realising a free and open Indo-Pacific region and responding to global issues, including efforts toward a world without nuclear weapons.
“We hope the first virtual meeting in 2022 between the two leaders will serve as an occasion to show the world the unwavering bond under the Japan-US alliance and take it to a higher level,” Mr Matsuno said at a press conference.
Mr Biden and Mr Kishida had a phone call in October, shortly after Mr Kishida was elected prime minister in parliament to replace Yoshihide Suga, who quit after over a year in office.
The two leaders also had a brief conversation on the sidelines of the UN climate talks in Britain in November.
Mr Kishida was hoping to hold an official bilateral meeting with Mr Biden earlier, but in-person diplomacy has apparently become difficult amid a resurgence Covid-19 in both countries due to the Omicron variant.