TOKYO, January 22 (Xinhua), — Japan and the United States will hold ministerial talks on economic and environment issues within a framework of “two plus-two,” Fumio Kishida, Japan’s Prime Minister, said Friday after a virtual meeting with Joe Biden.
According to local media, the two-plus-two talks on economic issues will focus on infrastructure investment, green energy, and trade.
According to sources, the new dialogue framework will be made up of four members: the U.S. state secretary and commerce secretaries and Japan’s foreign and industrial ministers.
According to Kishida, Biden accepted the idea of a Quad summit meeting between the United States, Japan and India in Japan during the online meeting.
Kishida had originally hoped to meet Biden in person but he was prevented from visiting the United States by COVID-19 infection.
Since his election in October last year Kishida has prioritized the protection of national economic interests. Japan and its longtime security ally, USA, have been trying to strengthen cooperation in order to make supply chain more robust.
