US President Joe Biden arrived in Japan on Thursday for a summit of leaders of the world’s Group of Seven most industrialized countries, which is expected to focus on countering China’s economic practices and supporting Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion.
Biden greeted a group of about 400 US and Japanese troops at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni shortly after landing.
He later met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Hiroshima, the site of the G-7 talks.
Biden told Kishida that the United States and Japan “stand for shared values,” such as supporting Ukraine and holding Russia accountable for its aggressive war. He also highlighted a commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and “ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
“The bottom line, Mr. Prime Minister, is that when our countries come together, we are stronger, and I think the entire world is safer when we do,” Biden said.
The G-7 summit will also include the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the European Union.
Kishida also invited a group of non-members to participate in the summit as part of an effort to engage with the “global south.” Those nations include Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
The leaders are expected to discuss trade and investment restrictions used by China, as well as boycotts and sanctions. Possible actions by the G-7 include export controls and restrictions on investment by those nations in China.
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