バイデン氏「卓越した指導者」　安倍氏死去受け電話会談―日米首脳

　岸田文雄首相は９日午前、バイデン米大統領と約１０分間、電話で会談した。バイデン氏は、安倍晋三元首相が銃で撃たれ亡くなった事件を受け「怒りと悲しみ、深い哀悼の意」を伝えるとともに、「安倍氏は卓越した指導者として国際社会をリードし、日米関係の深化に大きな足跡を残した」とたたえた。
　これに対し岸田氏は「暴力に屈せず民主主義を守り抜く」と応じるとともに、「安倍氏は日米同盟を新たな高みへと導いた。遺志を継いで同盟のさらなる強化に努めていく」と語った。
　会談でバイデン氏は、「自由で開かれたインド太平洋」構想や日米豪印４カ国の枠組み「クアッド」を通じ、安倍氏が「永続的な遺産」を形作ったとも評した。（2022/07/09-10:15）

U.S. President Joe Biden has mourned the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was gunned down Friday, and called him an outstanding leader.
   In a 10-minute phone conversation with incumbent Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, held Saturday morning Japan time, Biden expressed his "outrage, sadness and deep condolences" over the shooting of the former leader of the East Asian nation.
   Abe, as an outstanding leader, led the international community and left major footprints in deepening U.S.-Japan relations, Biden told Kishida. Biden also underscored that he and the American people stand with Kishida and the people of Japan in their time of mourning.
   In response, Kishida said that he is determined to protect democracy without yielding to violence. Kishida said that Abe led the Japan-U.S. alliance to a higher level, adding that he will work to further strengthen the bilateral alliance by inheriting the will of the late leader.
   Biden stressed the importance of Abe's "enduring legacy," citing his vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific and the establishment of the Quad framework among the United States, Japan, Australia and India.