29 April 2025 — Upon the invitation of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., H.E. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, conducts an official visit to the Philippines on 29 to 30 April 2025.
During the bilateral meeting on 29 April 2025, President Marcos and Prime Minister Ishiba discussed diplomatic, political, security and defence cooperation, and looked forward to a robust relationship as it approaches the 70th anniversary of the normalization of ties in 2026. The President said that “with the spirit of reconciliation, brotherhood and amity as foundational to our relationship, the fruits of seven decades of engagement attest to a deeply meaningful relationship where our two peoples slowly built a shared history and multifaceted cooperation. It has been seven decades that generations of Filipinos and Japanese have felt the benefits of our stable and wise diplomacy.”
On the bilateral engagements of the Philippines and Japan, they looked forward to the entry into force and implementation of the Philippines-Japan Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA). They likewise decided to commence talks to enhance mutual logistics support or acquisition and cross-servicing.
Both leaders discussed bilateral economic cooperation under the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (PJEPA). They acknowledged the progress in critical areas of cooperation in information and communications technology and natural resources, and noted progress in cooperation in infrastructure, disaster prevention, agriculture, and development cooperation in Mindanao, among others.
Further, the leaders highlighted the excellent state of people-to-people exchanges. President Marcos expressed support for the World Expo 2025 in Osaka. They noted that both countries will celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the normalization of their diplomatic ties in 2026, a milestone event that opens future prospects under their Strengthened Strategic Partnership.
Lastly, the two leaders affirmed their common aspiration for peace, security, and progress in the region. END
