Vice President Biden opens weeklong Asia trip with Tokyo stop

12/2/2013

TOKYO — U.S. Vice President Joe Biden has opened a weeklong trip to Asia aimed at showing the U.S. is still committed to increasing its engagement and influence in the region.

Biden arrived in Tokyo on Monday evening and was being met by Caroline Kennedy, the new U.S. ambassador to Japan. While in Japan, Biden will meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He’ll also tour a technology company and highlight women’s role in Japan’s economy.

Later in the week, Biden will meet in China with President Xi Jinping amid an international spat over China’s new air defense zone.

Biden will wrap up the trip in Seoul, where he will meet with South Korea’s president and prime minister.

He’ll deliver a speech about U.S.-Korean relations and be briefed on the North Korean nuclear situation.