'Boldly go': Prime Minister Kishida quotes Star Trek in a toast to US-Japan alliance

‘Boldly go’: Prime Minister Kishida quotes Star Trek in a toast to US-Japan alliance

NEW DELHI: In an event marked by glamour and high-profile guests, the White House hosted a state dinner honoring the strong alliance between the United States and Japan. The dinner, attended by a roster of dignitaries, celebrities, and business leaders, was held in the presence of President Joe Biden, Jill Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and his wife, Mrs Kishida Yuko.

The guest list read like a who’s who, featuring names such as former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and notable personalities from the business and entertainment sectors including Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, Tim Cook, and Robert De Niro.

The evening was not without its light-hearted moments. Prime Minister Kishida, in his remarks, invoked the spirit of “Star Trek” to laud the bilateral ties between Tokyo and Washington, a symbolic gesture underscoring the futuristic and exploratory nature of the US-Japan partnership.

“I would like to propose a toast to our voyage to the frontier of the Japan-US relationship with this word: boldly go,” Kishida said, quoting the iconic opening monologue of the original “Star Trek” series.

Kishida, who spoke in English, and President Joe Biden exchanged warm toasts to each other and the decades-long, alliance between their nations as top figures from business, sports and politics — including an ex-president — looked on. The two leaders, who expressed a genuine friendship, pledged to continue to knit together their countries’ interests in the face of global challenges.

The gathering underscored the critical importance of the US-Japan alliance in addressing global challenges and reaffirmed the countries’ commitments to democracy, security, and economic growth. The dinner also served as a platform for discussing key issues such as regional security, economic cooperation, and shared democratic values amidst the backdrop of global geopolitical shifts.

Despite the glamorous occasion, President Biden momentarily found himself in a humorous predicament, attempting to toast without a glass, a light-hearted moment that added a personal touch to the formal proceedings.

Kishida is the fifth world leader Biden has honored with a state dinner following counterparts from France, South Korea, India and Australia.

(With inputs from agencies)

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