Kishida delights Washington with promise of 250 cherry trees as independence gift

FILE PHOTO: Cherry blossoms bloom near the Capitol in Washington, U.S., March 20, 2024. REUTERS/Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida drew cheers and applause from U.S. lawmakers on Thursday when he announced a plan to donate 250 cherry trees to the U.S. capital to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. independence.

In a speech to the U.S. Congress in Washington underscoring close ties between the United States and Japan, Kishida referred to work the U.S. National Park Service is undertaking to spruce up the Tidal Basin, an area of parkland in Washington that is home to national monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial.