Photo taken on Jan. 12, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Photo: Xinhua)

 
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will travel to Japan and South Korea next week, the U.S. State Department confirmed on Wednesday.

The State Department said in a statement that Blinken and Austin will attend the "2+2" meeting in Tokyo and Seoul with counterparts of the two allies from March 16 to 18. The trip will be the first in-person overseas visit by cabinet officials of the Joe Biden administration.

The Pentagon said Austin will travel to India after his trip to Japan and South Korea.

President Biden on Friday will meet virtually with leaders of Japan, India, and Australia. It will be the first time that "the Quad" meet at the leader level.