Remarks: Joe Biden Holds a Bilateral Meeting With Kishida Fumio of Japan - January 13, 2023


Joe Biden Holds a Bilateral Meeting With Kishida Fumio of Japan [2023-01-13]
Joe Biden
Fumio Kishida
Japan
United States
APEC
Oval Office
Washington, D.C.

Joe Biden
00:00:00 - 00:00:14 ()
Fumio, they like you. [Laughs]
Somewhat Positive
Fumio Kishida
00:00:14 - 00:00:22 ()
Thank you.
Somewhat Positive
Joe Biden
00:00:22 - 00:01:51 ()
Well, Mr. Prime Minister, it's great to see you again. Welcome. To be able to welc- -- welcome such a close friend to the Oval Office again. And, you know, we meet at a remarkable moment in our alliance. I can honestly say -- more as a student of history than a participant -- that it's been -- I don't think there's ever been a time when we've been closer to Japan in the United States.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:01:51 - 00:01:56 ()
[Addressing the interpreter] I'll stop so you can translate.
Slightly Negative
Joe Biden
00:01:56 - 00:02:34 ()
Last year in Japan, you said to me, and I quote, "We are two nations that share fundamental values." I couldn't agree with you more. We are.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:02:34 - 00:02:51 ()
These shared democratic values are the source of our strength, the source of our alliance, and the source of our being able to deliver for all our people.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:02:51 - 00:03:09 ()
We're modernizing our military alliance, building on Japan's historic increase in defense spending and new National Security Strategy.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:03:09 - 00:03:31 ()
Let me be crystal clear: The United States is fully, thoroughly, completely committed to the alliance and, more importantly, to Japan's defense -- the defense of Japan.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:03:31 - 00:03:47 ()
We're working closely on tech and economic issues, including the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.
Unknown
Joe Biden
00:03:47 - 00:04:20 ()
And we're stepping up to hold Putin accountable for his unprovoked war in Ukraine. And I want to thank you -- thank you for your strong leadership on this from the very first -- the very first conversation we had on this.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:04:20 - 00:04:46 ()
Today, I'm looking forward to how we can continue advancing our shared goals and values, including at the G7 Summit in Japan and the APEC in -- in San Francisco later this year.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:04:46 - 00:05:06 ()
Rather than figuring out how we can work more closely together, a more difficult job would be trying to figure out how and where we disagree.
Very Negative
Joe Biden
00:05:06 - 00:05:10 ()
You're a real leader, and you're a real friend.
Positive
Fumio Kishida
00:05:10 - 00:05:26 ()
[Via Interpreter] Well, Joe, thank you so much for those warm words of welcome.
Very Positive
Fumio Kishida
00:05:26 - 00:05:55 ()
[Via Interpreter] As we enter the new year of 2023, I am pleased to make my first visit to Washington, D.C., as Prime Minister and to have this meeting with you, Joe, my dear friend.
Very Positive
Fumio Kishida
00:05:55 - 00:06:39 ()
[Via Interpreter] And last year -- or starting with your visit to Japan in May, we were able to accomplish so much for our peace and security in the region and prosperity in the region and the international community through numerous meetings, not just our bilateral summit meetings but also the Quad meetings, the Japan-U.S.-ROK trilaterals, among others. And I'm sincerely grateful for your cooperation, Joe.
Very Positive
Fumio Kishida
00:06:39 - 00:07:23 ()
[Via Interpreter] And Japan and the United States are currently facing the most challenging and complex security environment in recent history. And in order to ensure our peace and prosperity in the region and to contribute to that and also safeguard peace and security of Japan, in late last year, Japan formulated a new national security strategy.
Very Positive
Fumio Kishida
00:07:23 - 00:08:03 ()
[Via Interpreter] And in so doing, Japan decided to fundamentally reinforcing our defense capabilities, including in possessing the counterstrike capabilities, and in order to ensure that, increased our defense budget. And this new policy was set forth by Japan, and I believe that this will be beneficial for the deterrence capabilities and response capabilities of the alliance as well.
Very Positive
Fumio Kishida
00:08:03 - 00:08:34 ()
[Via Interpreter] And, Joe, as you rightly pointed out, I too feel that the role to be played by Japan and the United States -- which share the fundamental values such as democracy and the rule of law -- the role that we are to play is becoming even greater.
Very Positive
Fumio Kishida
00:08:34 - 00:09:47 ()
[Via Interpreter] And, today, I very much look forward to having a candid exchange of views with you, Joe, on the various important topics, including a free and open Indo-Pacific, the G7, APEC, as well as climate change.
Very Positive
Joe Biden
00:09:47 - 00:09:50 ()
I look forward to it as well. Thank you.
Very Positive