The Biden administration was inaugurated amidst the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has been adding confusion to the international order and sparking the rising tide of protectionism. With the aim to overcome the pandemic and restore the US economy, the new government encourages solidarity between the nation and its people in order to shift from division to unity. On the diplomatic front, the government announced its policy of valuing international cooperation, including rejoining the Paris Agreement. Such movements raise our expectations that various changes are on the horizon.

Sharing values and philosophies such as freedom, democracy, the rule of law, and a market economy, Japan and the US must further enhance their collaboration to resolve a number of issues facing the global community.

In particular, addressing the challenge of global climate change is an important subject. The strengthening of environmental policies by the Japanese and the US governments toward the achievement of virtually zero CO₂ emissions by 2050 will lead to significant opportunities for the business community.

Among others, the dissemination of continuous innovations is essential for the transition to a carbon-free society. Decarbonization efforts will make progress with breakthroughs in energy-related technologies including EV, storage batteries, and hydrogen in sync with the united efforts of government and industry to expand the market and maintain and nurture relevant industries. In such an environment, Japan and the US must demonstrate global leadership by combining their strengths. In addition, active collaboration between China and the US, who were ranked first and second in the world in terms of CO₂ emissions, is a significant issue. I hope that China's move toward decarbonization will provide the impetus for dialogue between the US and China and lead to improvement in their relations.

With respect to trade, the US presence will be important for the maintenance and development of a free and open rules-based international economic order. I expect the new administration to take positive action from a global perspective, namely rejoining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and demonstrating leadership in international frameworks, including the World Trade Organization (WTO).

I am confident that the world will overcome the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and move on a new path for growth. Based on enhanced cooperation, Japan and the US must show bold leadership in the efforts to build a sustainable international community.