An historic strengthening of security relations is announced by the US and Japan

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for an official visit to underline Japan's role in combating China in the Asia-Pacific.

"Through our partnership, we have strengthened the alliance. We have expanded our work together. We've raised our shared ambitions," Biden said in his opening remarks during a joint press conference in the White House Rose Garden. "And now the U.S.-Japan alliance is a beacon to the entire world."

The first Japanese leader visit in nine years comes amid disagreements over a Japanese company's proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel.

Kishida will address Congress on Thursday, the second Japanese leader to do so since Shinzo Abe in 2015. Then he will attend the first trilateral discussions with the U.S. and Philippines.

As Tokyo prepares for a new joint headquarters to manage all military activities, Biden and Kishida revealed plans to overhaul the U.S. military command structure in Japan, which hosts 54,000 U.S. personnel. The U.S. and Japan will also form a military-industrial council to discuss defense weapons production.

Tuesday, the White House announced a U.S.-Japan lunar exploration pact. They also announced important AI, semiconductor, and sustainable energy research agreements.

"Japan will provide and maintain a pressurized rover to support astronauts living and working on the Moon, while the United States will allocate two astronaut flight opportunities to the lunar surface for Japan on future Artemis missions," the White House said about lunar exploration agreement.