Japanese Prime Minister takes part in historic visit to North Carolina [Video]

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited North Carolina on Friday, touring Japanese businesses investing heavily in the state and issuing a call to help protect democracy and freedom.

During a State Lunch on Friday afternoon, Gov. Roy Cooper (D) noted it was the first time the Executive Mansion had hosted a foreign head of state.

“What better way to start than with one of our closest allies and friends from the country of Japan with whom we share so many common interests,” Cooper said.

The two began the day visiting Toyota’s electric vehicle battery plant in Randolph County, where the company is investing nearly $14 billion and creating about 5,000 jobs. They also stopped by Honda Aircraft Company in Guilford County before returning to Raleigh.

“This is a win-win. I think it says a lot about North Carolina. The Japanese could virtually go anywhere in the world. It says a lot about our state. It says a lot about our workforce,” said economist …