US President Biden to host Japan PM for state visit in April: White House
Published: Jan 26, 2024, 03:58 IST | Updated: Jan 26, 2024, 03:58 IST
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden.
United States President Joe Biden is set to host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in April, who will be on a state visit to Washington DC, to strengthen ties with a key Asia-Pacific ally, said the White House on Thursday (Jan 25).
The US visit of the Japanese prime minister, which will include a state dinner, will hint at the focus of Washington on a crucial alliance with an eye on unpredictable North Korea as well as the increasingly assertive China.
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"I'm pleased to announce that President Biden and the First Lady will host Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Mrs Kishida of Japan for a state visit on the 10th of April," said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, while speaking to the reporters aboard Air Force One.
Japan was "one of our closest allies in the whole world," said Kirby, while speaking to the reporters who were travelling along with Biden aboard Air Force One which was heading to a political event in the state of Wisconsin.
"This obviously will underscore the importance of our alliance with Japan and our bilateral relationship," said Kirby.
Kirby added that Biden and Kishida will discuss "how we're working together across a range of other threats and challenges in the Indo-Pacific", a term used by the US administration to refer to the region.
"This obviously will underscore the importance of our alliance with Japan and our bilateral relationship," said Kirby.
Kirby added that Biden and Kishida will discuss "how we're working together across a range of other threats and challenges in the Indo-Pacific", a term used by the US administration to refer to the region.
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He said that the two leaders will also discuss how to improve their three-way cooperation with South Korea.
The state visit of Kishida will take place eight months after Kishida and South Korea's premier were hosted by Biden at his Camp David retreat for a landmark summit which rattled China.
Meanwhile, Japan's ambassador to Washington, Shigeo Yamada, in pre-recorded remarks made at an event hosted by the Wilson Centre think tank on Thursday (Jan 25), said, "2024 will be a pivotal year for Japan-US relations, with an official visit by Prime Minister Kishida taking place early in the year."
The state visit of Kishida will take place eight months after Kishida and South Korea's premier were hosted by Biden at his Camp David retreat for a landmark summit which rattled China.
Meanwhile, Japan's ambassador to Washington, Shigeo Yamada, in pre-recorded remarks made at an event hosted by the Wilson Centre think tank on Thursday (Jan 25), said, "2024 will be a pivotal year for Japan-US relations, with an official visit by Prime Minister Kishida taking place early in the year."
(With inputs from agencies)