Japan’s outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is planning a visit to the United States in late September to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly meeting and possibly meet with President Joe Biden.
According to a report by the Japanese media outlet “Yomiuri Shimbun,” multiple unnamed government sources revealed that the visit is set to begin on September 22 and last for several days.
Kishida announced on Wednesday (August 14) that he will not participate in the ruling party’s leadership election, indicating that he will resign from the position of prime minister at the end of September when his term as party leader expires.
Following Kishida’s resignation announcement, Biden released a statement praising the Prime Minister’s leadership as “historic.” Biden credited Kishida for his firm courage, clear moral compass, and the transformation of Japan’s role in the world.
Biden highlighted Kishida’s achievements in revising the national security strategy and supporting Ukraine, as well as the trilateral cooperation between the US, Japan, and South Korea during his tenure. He emphasized the strengthening of the collective capabilities in addressing common challenges through the new era of trilateral cooperation among the three countries.
The President expressed confidence in the future of the US-Japan alliance under Kishida’s leadership, stating that the relationship is stronger and brighter than ever before. Biden acknowledged Kishida’s courageous leadership, which will be remembered on both sides of the Pacific for decades to come, and expressed gratitude for their friendship.
In response, on the 15th, Kishida took to the X platform to thank Biden, stating, “I am deeply grateful for your warm words. Japan and the United States have developed into stronger global partners. Thank you, my true friend Joe.”
The Japanese Prime Minister is elected by members of the parliament, with the ruling coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party holding a majority in both houses of parliament. The specific date and schedule for the Liberal Democratic Party’s leadership election to decide the next Prime Minister of Japan will be determined next Tuesday (August 20).
Quoting anonymous officials, the Kyodo News Agency reported that the party is considering holding the leadership election on September 27.
If finalized, this timeline would allow Kishida, who also serves as the party’s leader, to attend the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2024 scheduled for September 24 in New York.
Fumio Kishida won the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election on September 29, 2021, and secured over half of the votes in the special parliamentary sessions for Prime Minister in the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors on October 4 of the same year, becoming the 100th Prime Minister of Japan.