U.S. President Biden had a telephone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in the early morning of January 28.
The two sides reached a consensus on strengthening cooperation to further strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance.
Yoshihide Suga told reporters after the talks that he congratulated Biden on taking office as President.
During the talks, the two sides reached a consensus on strengthening the Japan-US alliance and confirmed close cooperation on international issues such as the new crown epidemic and climate change.
Yoshihide Suga said that the two sides agreed to put their plan to visit the United States on the agenda as soon as possible depending on the epidemic situation, so as to realize face-to-face consultations between the leaders of the two countries.
He said that in terms of deepening his personal relationship with Biden, the phone meeting that day was a “very good meeting.”
The White House issued a statement stating that Biden reiterated to Yoshihide Suga that the United States had provided an “extended deterrence” to Japan and affirmed the importance of Japan as the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
The two sides discussed the need to make efforts to achieve the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
At the same time, both parties reaffirmed that the “U.S.-Japan Security Treaty” applies to the island groups in the East China Sea controlled by Japan, and that the Diaoyu Islands are the subject of Article 5 of the treaty.
However, this meeting did not involve the hosting of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
Just yesterday, Haruyuki Takahashi, member of the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee’s Executive Committee, said, “Biden is dealing with the severe situation brought about by the new crown, but if he can make a positive statement about the development of the Olympics, we will also receive strong support.” Gao Bridge also claimed that the International Olympic Committee cannot make a decision on the Olympics, it depends on the United States.
This is Biden’s first phone call to Japan after he became president.
It is reported that after taking office, Biden has successively called the heads of state of Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Secretary-General of NATO.
He had just called Russian President Putin yesterday.
