On November 18, 1974, President Ford visited Japan for the first time on the occasion of the 120th anniversary of the Treaty of Peace between the United States and Japan. This was the first visit by the current President of the United States to Japan. On November 20, the United States and Japan issued a joint statement stating that the two countries had many common interests in political and economic matters and that in the future they should strengthen mutual consultation and cooperation. This visit by the President of the United States to Japan indicated that Japan was shifting to an equal partnership by relying on the status of dependent on the United States.