Japanese PM Fumio Kishida talks tech cooperation with US as state visit begins

The first day of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s state visit to the United States focused on expanding cooperation on critical and emerging technology as the long-time allies aim to counterbalance China’s growing military and tech heft.

“Japan welcomes investments from the United States that push forward such cooperation in critical and emerging technology. The economic growth our country attains through your investments shall serve as the funding source of further investments into the United States by Japanese entities,” he said at a round-table conference with American business leaders on Tuesday at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington.

“So, through such mutual expansion of investments, our economies will become even more deeply tied and inseparable.”

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He spoke minutes after meeting with Microsoft’s vice-chair and president, Brad Smith, as the American tech giant announced a US$2.9 billion investment in its cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure in Japan. This will be Microsoft’s largest investment since it established roots in the country in 1978.

Kishida praised Microsoft for making “significant contributions to the social implementation of generative AI in Japan through various initiatives”, according to a company press release.

Under the deal, Microsoft will provide AI skills to more than 3 million people and set up its first Asian research lab in Tokyo. The company will also work with Japan to strengthen cybersecurity resilience for the government, business and society.

Participants at the event included US chip manufacturer Micron’s CEO, Sanjay Mehrotra; aerospace giant Boeing’s defence chief Ted