Biden-Kishida meet: Cherry blossoms, defence pacts highlights of grand state visit
US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
US President Joe Biden laid out the red carpet for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's state visit to the United States as the Democratic leader hailed the Washington-Tokyo ties as "stronger than it's ever been". A swanky state dinner astonished Washington's corridors of power as the two of India's Quad partners discussed the Indo-Pacific with veiled references to China's expansionist belligerence in the region.
Tokyo and Washington inked a total of 17 pacts during this state visit, making it the most significant bilateral for Biden in an election year.
"We have been brought together with the same hopes, the same values, the same commitment to democracy and freedom and to dignity, dignity for all. And today without question, our alliance is literally stronger than it has ever been," Biden said during the dinner.
The state dinner was attended by the likes of Jamie Dimon, Apple top executive Tim Cook and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
A swanky dinner and cherry blossoms underline Japan-US ties
Dry-aged rib eye steak, cherry blossoms and a special ensemble of songs played by Paul Simon. That's what defined the swanky dinner that Biden hosted for Kishida to underline the Washington-Tokyo ties that Biden described were at an "inflection point".
"Tonight, we pledge to keep going. We stand at an inflection point where the decisions we make now are going to determine the course of the future for decades to come," Biden added.
With Japan undergoing a significant flux in its defence posture, its partnership with the United States has attained a significance that is different from the ties it has shared with the world's biggest economy in past decades.
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Over 70 items covering a wide array of critical sectors were announced. This included a purported commitment to changing the US force structure in Japan with a simultaneous assurance to Kishida that the establishment of a "military-industrial council" remained a top priority for the two countries.
"Together, we made it closer, stronger and more effective than ever before in history."
Japan has also committed to giving 250 new cherry blossom trees to honour the US's 250th birthday in 2026.
(With inputs from agencies)