The Japanese and U.S. governments are likely to agree on strengthening cooperation over infrastructure projects in other countries at a planned meeting between Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and President Joe Biden in Washington in April, according to Japanese government sources.
The focus will be on building next-generation infrastructure such as 5G communications networks and power generation facilities that will lead to decarbonization. Taking into consideration China's Belt and Road initiative to create a huge economic bloc, Tokyo and Washington aim to take the lead in infrastructure development in the Indo-Pacific region.
The agreement will be included in the joint statement to be released after the summit meeting.
Biden made clear his stance to counter China in his March 31 speech on his infrastructure plan, saying, "It's going to boost America's innovative edge in markets where global leadership is up for grabs -- markets like battery technology, biotechnology, computer chips, clean energy -- in competition with China in particular."
Climate change is expected to be one of the main topics of discussion at the summit, aiming at promoting decarbonization through the spread of infrastructure, utilizing Japanese and U.S. technologies.
In the field of 5G, where the United States and China compete for supremacy, Tokyo and Washington are expected to strengthen cooperation on extending equipment for the construction of safe networks.
The two nations will also look into the joint development of "smart cities," a next-generation urban model that makes use of cutting-edge information and communication technologies.
Suga has been working on exports of transportation and communication infrastructures to Southeast Asia since the time he was a chief cabinet secretary. By putting Japan's "high-quality infrastructure" at the forefront, Japan has been trying to differentiate itself from China, which sells its infrastructure at low prices. Tokyo and Washington will further promote such efforts.
Suga and Biden's joint statement is likely to mention topics including the establishment of supply chains for rare earths and pharmaceuticals that do not rely on specific countries, in addition to the application of Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, which stipulates U.S. obligations to defend Japan, to the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture.
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