WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will hold a trilateral summit at the White House on April 11, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday.

The United States aims to deepen its cooperation with Japan and the Philippines as the Biden administration is working to strengthen frameworks with allied countries in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China’s hegemonic moves.

In a statement, Jean-Pierre said that the leaders will “advance a trilateral partnership built on deep historical ties of friendship, robust and growing economic relations, a proud and resolute commitment to shared democratic values, and a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

The agenda of the upcoming summit is expected to include expanding business cooperation and promoting cooperation on new technologies, clean energy and climate change, as well as security issues in the Indo-Pacific and the world.

The trilateral summit will be held during Kishida’s state visit to the United States. Kishida and Biden are scheduled to hold bilateral talks on April 10.

At a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said that Japan will boost ties with the United States and the Philippines to maintain and enhance the free and open international order based on the rule of law, at a time when the international community is facing historic changes.

JIJI Press