Remarks Prior to a Meeting With Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan and an Exchange With Reporters.

President Biden welcomed Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan to the White House for a meeting. They discussed the strong alliance between the United States and Japan, including their joint support for Ukraine and their trilateral relationship with South Korea. They also talked about deepening defense and technology cooperation and ensuring a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. Prime Minister Kishida expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality and emphasized the importance of maintaining a free and open international order. The meeting was followed by a brief exchange with reporters, where President Biden mentioned ongoing negotiations for a Gaza cease-fire. [Extracted from the article]