Luncheon meeting with Governor Roy Cooper and First Lady Kristin Cooper of the State of North Carolina (Summary)

On April 12, commencing at 1:35 p.m. (local time; 2:35 a.m. on April 13 Japan Time) for approximately 80 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, and Mrs. KISHIDA Yuko, the spouse of the Prime Minister of Japan, who are visiting the State of North Carolina, the United States of America, attended a luncheon meeting with the Honorable Roy Cooper, Governor of the State of North Carolina, the United States of America, and Mrs. Kristin Cooper, First Lady of the State of North Carolina. The overview is as follows. Leaders of both parties in the State Legislature, including the Honorable Tim Moore, the Speaker of the State House of Representatives, officials of the Council of State, and Department Secretaries of the State of North Carolina, representatives of companies as well as individuals involved in academic and cultural exchanges within the State among others, participated in this luncheon.

1. In his opening remarks, Governor Cooper welcomed Prime Minister Kishida's visit to the State of North Carolina and noted he was very pleased to have Prime Minister Kishida and Mrs. Kishida as the first foreign leader to be invited to the Governor’s Official Residence in its 133 year-long history. Governor Cooper also expressed his desire to further strengthen friendship and cooperation between Japan and North Carolina, touching on his earlier visit in the morning with Prime Minister Kishida to the production facilities of the Toyota Motor Corporation and the Honda Aircraft Company.

2. Prime Minister Kishida then expressed his appreciation for the welcome by Governor Cooper and the First Lady and stated that it is time for Japan and the United States to work together as global partners to protect freedom and democracy with a strong will. He also stated that the production facilities of the Toyota Motor Corporation and the Honda Aircraft Company that he visited together with Governor Cooper are truly symbolic efforts in today’s Japan-U.S. cooperation on supply chain and cutting-edge technology.

3. During the luncheon, the participants exchanged views on deepening the friendship and cooperation between Japan and the State of North Carolina and further strengthening Japan’s economic relations with the U.S. and the State of North Carolina.