The United States and Japan vowed on Friday to stand firm together against an assertive China and to step up cooperation on climate change and next-generation technology, as President Joe Biden made his first summit a show of alliance unity.

After waiting nearly three months for his first foreign guest due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Biden told Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga that Japan enjoyed the United States’ “iron-clad support” on security issues and beyond. A joint statement called for “candid conversations” with China and did not hold back raising concerns over Beijing’s growing maritime moves, its clampdowns in Hong Kong  and growing tension over Taiwan.