President Marcos reaffirmed to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru the Philippine commitment to deepen ties in diplomatic, political, security, and defense cooperation as both nations approach 70 years of diplomatic relations in 2026.

“I look forward to continuing our Strengthened Strategic Partnership with Japan, a country that shares our ideals and aspirations of upholding democratic institutions and the rules-based international order,” President Marcos said.

The President and the Prime Minister held a joint press conference on Tuesday following their bilateral meeting at the Malacañan Palace.

The Chief Executive said discussions with Prime Minister Ishiba laid the groundwork for a “resonant and inspiring future across all possible sectors,” citing the importance of concrete outcomes that benefit people in their everyday lives and their children’s lives.”

“Prime Minister Ishiba and I earlier discussed the many aspects of our diplomatic, political, security, and defense cooperation. We looked forward to a robust relationship, as our diplomatic relations enter their 70th year of normalization in the year 2026,” the President said.

President Marcos also highlighted the strong bilateral relationship built over nearly 70 years, grounded in reconciliation, mutual respect, and cooperation in areas such as trade, development, security, and defense.

The Chief Executive lauded Japan as a reliable and steadfast partner, noting that it is the Philippines’ second-largest economic partner.

The President is committed to strengthening economic ties with Japan through mechanisms like the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.

President Marcos acknowledged Japan’s significant contributions to the Mindanao peace process. He also observed that Japan’s Official Security Assistance program has supported the modernization of the Department of National Defense and other security agencies. | PND