Biden to host Japanese premier for state visit in April: White House

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Joe Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a formal state visit in April, the White House announced Thursday.

Biden, and first lady Jill Biden, will host Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida on April 10 for a state visit and dinner that are intended to "underscore the importance of our alliance with Japan and our bilateral relationship," according to National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.

"The president is very much looking forward to seeing Prime Minister Kishida here in a couple of months, for again, a formal state visit, which will include a state dinner," he told reporters aboard Air Force One.

The White House said in a subsequent statement that Biden and Kishida will discuss "efforts to strengthen our political, security, economic, and people-to-people ties so that our Alliance is postured to address evolving challenges and advance our shared vision for a free, open, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region and world."