Japan PM Fumio Kishida Arrives in Washington; State Visit Involves Meeting with Biden, State Dinner and Speech at Congress (UPDATE 1)

By Chie Morifuji / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

11:44 JST, April 9, 2024 (updated at 14:00 JST)

WASHINGTON — Prime Minster Fumio Kishida arrived in the United States on Monday afternoon ahead of official talks with U.S. President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Kishida’s trip to the United States marks the first state visit by a Japanese prime minister since the late Shinzo Abe in 2015.

Kishida, who arrived at Joint Base Andrews in the suburbs of Washington on a government aircraft, will stay at Blair House, the president’s guest house near the White House.

On Tuesday, Kishida will visit Arlington National Cemetery, where the war dead are buried, and offer flowers there. He will also meet Microsoft Corp. President Brad Smith.

On Wednesday, Kishida will meet with Biden at the White House for a joint press conference and an official banquet. The day after, Kishida will address a joint session of the U.S. House and Senate and attend the first trilateral summit with Biden and Marcos.

Kishida will also visit factories of Japanese-affiliated firms in North Carolina before returning to Japan on Sunday.