President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. — Photo from Bongbong Marcos/Facebook
TOKYO — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be a state guest of Japan for four days from May 26, as Tokyo seeks to strengthen ties with Manila amid an increasingly complex security environment.
Marcos will hold talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, meet with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako and attend a banquet at the Imperial Palace, Tokyo’s government spokesperson said following the visit’s approval by the Cabinet.
Talks between Takaichi and Marcos are expected to cover confirmation of their commitment to the strategic evolution of Japan’s free and open Indo-Pacific policy, diplomatic sources have said, amid concerns over an increasingly assertive China.
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Deepening relationship
The visit comes as the countries mark the 70th anniversary of normalized ties this year.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference that Japan hopes the visit will “further deepen the friendly and cooperative relationship” between Tokyo and Manila, noting their strong ties across many areas “as strategic partners who share fundamental values and strategic interests.”
Marcos will be Japan’s first state guest since Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in March 2025. /das
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