<span style="color: #222222;">US and Japan have agreed to boost cooperation on pressing economic and security issues, including China, North Korea's missiles, and Russia's threat to Ukraine. The decisions were taken in a virtual meeting between President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida yesterday.  <br />''<br />''Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kishida said he and Biden had agreed to cooperate to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific, to work closely on China and the North Korean missile issue, and also to cooperate on Ukraine. He also said Japan would host a meeting of the Quad grouping of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India in the first half of this year with Biden visiting.<br />''<br />''Biden accepted the invitation and indicated his intention to visit in late spring.<br />''<br />''Kishida added that both countries would work closely to prevent a Russian invasion of Ukraine keep close contact with other allies and partners and continue communicating on the point that any attack will be met with strong action.<br />''<br />''A White House statement said Biden had welcomed Kishida's decision to increase defence spending and underscored the importance of sustaining these vital investments over time.</span><br />