Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will address a joint session of the U.S. Congress on April 11 when he travels to Washington for an official visit, congressional leaders said Monday.
The leaders, including House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, said in a statement that Kishida’s visit “symbolizes both nations’ commitment to peace and prosperity and to an international community that promotes democracy, security and stability.”
Kishida’s address will be the first by a Japanese leader in nine years. On April 10, he is scheduled to hold talks with President Joe Biden and attend a state dinner.
During the visit, Kishida is expected to underscore that Japan will reinforce its long-standing alliance with the United States in the face of China’s assertive actions and North Korea’s weapons development.
Kishida and Biden will likely agree on the need to deepen bilateral cooperation in areas such as economic security, outer space and emerging technologies, while also enhancing collaboration trilaterally with South Korea and multilaterally with like-minded partners.
“Now more than ever, we must speak out against tyranny and continue our pursuit of freedom and democracy worldwide,” Johnson said in the statement. “I am pleased to join my colleagues in extending this invitation.”
