By the way, Kishida agreed to increase security and economic cooperation, Reuters agreed

By David Brunnstrom, Kiyoshi Takenaka and Michael Martina

WASHINGTON / TOKYO (Reuters) – US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed at a virtual meeting on Friday to boost cooperation on serious economic and security issues, including China, North Korean missiles and Russia’s threat to Ukraine.

The online meeting, the first major talks since Kishida became Japan’s prime minister in October, came after a “two plus two” debate this month, in which longtime allied defense and foreign ministers expressed deep concern over China’s growing power and vowed to respond. Necessary to destabilize Indo-Pacific activity.

Kishida said he and Biden had agreed to work together to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific, to work closely with the China-North Korea missile issue, and to cooperate in Ukraine as well.

He also said that Japan will host a meeting of Quad groups from the United States, Japan, Australia and India with Biden’s visit in the first half of this year.

Biden accepted the invitation and said he plans to visit in late spring, a senior U.S. administration official said, adding that one of the goals of the Quad meeting would be to look at the progress of the commitment to supply a dose of COVID-19 billion vaccine in the Southeast. Asia 2022 end https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-says-delivering-vaccine-pledge-asia-key-quad-credibility-2021-10-20.

Kishida said he and Biden also agreed to create an economic version of a “two plus two” ministry to promote economic cooperation. A U.S. official said it would focus on supply chains, technology investment, standard setting and export controls.

“We agreed to work together to advance cooperation between countries of the same opinion to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Kishida told reporters. “We agreed on close cooperation on China-related issues, including the East and South China Seas, including Hong Kong and Xinjiang Uyghur (Autonomous Region), as well as North Korea’s nuclear and missile issues.”

Kishida said he and Biden would work closely to prevent the Russian invasion of Ukraine and “maintain a close relationship with other allies and partners and continue to report any strong action in response to any attack.” “It is an honor to meet with Prime Minister Kishida to further strengthen the US-Japan Alliance, the foundation of Indo-Pacific and global peace and security.”

A White House statement said Biden welcomed Kishida’s decision to increase defense spending and “stressed the importance of sustaining these vital investments over time.”

He said the two stressed the importance of strengthening cybersecurity and decided to “back down” China’s efforts to change the state of the East and South China Seas.

U.S. officials told reporters that the U.S.-Japan solidarity was “on full display” in a nearly 90-minute virtual session.

The two had a “very deep discussion” about China, sharing fears about neighbors and “predatory” steps in trade and other areas, he said, adding that Kishida was particularly concerned about China’s nuclear construction.

The White House said leaders condemned North Korea’s latest ballistic missile launches, and U.S. officials said Biden had made it clear that Washington would work closely with Japan and South Korea to condemn “possible possible provocations.”

North Korea has launched tactical missiles this week in its latest firing range and warned on Thursday that it could rethink a moratorium on nuclear and continental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in tests.

U.S. officials said Biden and Kishida had a “strong” discussion about the need for the U.S. to play an active role in Asian trade and commercial architecture.

The Biden administration has criticized the lack of a strong economic pillar in its strategy for Asia after incumbent President Donald Trump left the regional trade framework now known as the CPTPP in 2017, but cautioned critics to return to a pact that threatens U.S. employment. .

A senior US policy official for China said on Wednesday that Washington wants to set “common goals” in economic cooperation with Indo-Pacific countries in early 2022.

The Chinese embassy in Japan made an appearance on Saturday, where Biden and Kishida’s video meetings said he had carried out “non-violent attacks” on China and had “severely interfered” in its internal affairs, adding that he had presented tough delegations.

“We urge Japan and the US to continue the trend of the time, to abandon strict policies on zero-sum gambling and begging, to stop interfering in China’s internal affairs, and to stop drawing small circles based on ideologies.

Friday’s summit was followed by other security-related meetings attended by Indo-Pacific leaders: two talks between Japan and France on Thursday and between Australia and Britain’s foreign and defense ministers on Friday.

Biden held the first summit of the Quad group last year, where leaders vowed to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific “without being shy of coercion.”

China has stepped up military and diplomatic pressure to assert sovereignty over Taiwan, which is its own.

Kishida said this week that Japan would strengthen defenses on islands near Taiwan after pledging to review its security strategy in October, “including all options, including so-called enemy attack capabilities.”