U.S. President Joe Biden held final talks with his Asian allies before leaving office.
According to Anadolu Agency's January 13 report, Biden held important video conferences with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Ishibashi Shigeru.
According to the official White House statement, during the talks, the three leaders had detailed discussions about maritime security cooperation, economic partnership relations, China's dangerous and illegal actions in the South China Sea, and regional peace and stability issues of mutual concern. They also reached a common agreement to further strengthen cooperation to develop a "free and open" Indo-Pacific region.
This conversation is considered Biden's final high-level diplomatic engagement with Asian allies before completing his presidential term. Since taking office on January 20, 2021, Biden has placed special emphasis on strengthening cooperation with Indo-Pacific allies throughout his four-year presidency.