Press Convention by Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae Relating to the Go to to Japan by U.S. President Trump (Speeches and Statements by the Prime Minister)

[Provisional translation]

[Opening statement by Prime Minister Takaichi]

Today, I held my first in-person summit assembly with President Trump. Through candid discussions throughout wide-ranging fields, we achieved vital outcomes. I’m assured that, along with President Trump, we are able to elevate the Japan-U.S. Alliance to new heights. The Japan-U.S. Alliance is the cornerstone of Japan’s diplomacy and safety, and on the identical time, Japan is an indispensable associate for the United States within the Indo-Pacific area. With this in thoughts, I conveyed my want to work with the President to open a brand new chapter within the historical past of the Japan-U.S. Alliance, which makes each our nations stronger and extra affluent. We confirmed that we’ll additional improve the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance and to advance cooperation with like-minded companions, together with Japan-U.S.-ROK, Japan-U.S.-Philippines, and Japan-U.S.-Australia-India (Quad). We additionally affirmed our dedication to realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP),” as first advocated by former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo.

I conveyed to President Trump Japan’s dedication to proceed working to essentially reinforce our protection capabilities and improve protection spending at our personal initiative. Also, Japan and the United States are the closest financial companions. We will additional develop our economies by way of the swift and devoted implementation of our bilateral settlement reached in July, thereby maximizing Japan’s nationwide pursuits. We additionally confirmed that we’ll additional strengthen our financial safety cooperation in a variety of areas, together with essential minerals and uncommon earths, AI and different superior applied sciences, and shipbuilding. In this context, President Trump and I signed paperwork on the implementation of our bilateral settlement and on cooperation within the discipline of essential minerals and uncommon earths. We additionally held discussions on the Middle East and Ukraine, throughout which I expressed that Japan will proceed to face alongside the United States as a associate in its peace efforts. I requested continued understanding and cooperation concerning the abductions problem dedicated by North Korea, to which I gained President Trump’s full help. President Trump additionally kindly took time to fulfill with the relations of the abductees. Furthermore, we reaffirmed our resolute dedication to the entire denuclearization of North Korea.

Going ahead, I’m decided to additional deepen the connection of belief with President Trump and to strongly open a brand new golden age of the Japan–U.S. Alliance. With this best alliance on the planet because the cornerstone of our nation, we’ll restore Japanese diplomacy that thrives on the world’s heart stage and can assume an excellent larger function in advancing peace and prosperity throughout the globe. That concludes my remarks.