Biden, Secretary of State Blinken "eager to visit" Japan
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Monday that he and President Joe Biden hope to visit Japan as the two countries continue to deepen their ties, issuing a message of congratulations for the Japanese emperor's 61st birthday.
Recalling with "great fondness" previous visits to Japan during their respective former tenures as deputy secretary of state and vice president, Blinken said the two are "eager to visit Japan again."
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers his inaugural address in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Getty/Kyodo)
He also said the U.S.-Japan alliance is "the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in a free and open Indo-Pacific," referring to a concept that has evolved amid China's rise.