Chairman Kobayashi’s Comments on the Inauguration of US President Biden

January 21, 2021

I would like to congratulate President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on their inauguration.

In addition to serious political divisions, the United States faces critical challenges such as the spread of COVID-19, the need for economic reconstruction, and racial issues. The new administration will have to steer a very difficult course, but I expect the experienced President Biden to display the skills needed to restore domestic harmony and stability.

Many of the persons appointed to major posts in the Biden administration have deep connections with and knowledge of Japan. I hope that the Japanese government will quickly forge a relationship of trust with the new administration and work to strengthen the Japan-US alliance. This alliance not only continues to be the cornerstone of Japan’s diplomacy and security, but is now also the foundation of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

I expect the Biden administration to shift the course of US diplomacy toward international cooperation and to show leadership in its response to global issues such as the economy, security, and climate change while cooperating with the countries concerned.

In close coordination with the new administration, the Japanese government will aim to expand the free and fair economic zone it has promoted and to maintain and strengthen the rules-based multilateral trading system. The JFTC will support both the US and Japanese governments in these efforts.