PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. left on Tuesday for a four-day state visit to Japan, where he is expected to discuss increased collaboration in key areas of interest including defense, maritime security and energy resilience.
His visit, upon the invitation of the Japanese government, coincides with this year’s commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan.
”This visit seeks to further strengthen the bonds of friendship with a close neighbor, like-minded and future-oriented just like us in many ways, and a most reliable partner in times of both prosperity and times of uncertainty, such as today’s ongoing oil crisis,” the president said during the send-off ceremony held at the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.
”During this trip, I hope to harness the positive trajectory of our relations with Japan in all of our enriching engagements,” he added.
Marcos said he would actively pursue and cultivate collaboration in priority areas such as agriculture, energy and decarbonization, maritime cooperation, trade and investment, infrastructure, defense and security, space technology and the development of Mindanao.
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OFF TO JAPAN President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos depart for Japan on May 26, 2026. The state visit highlights the enduring friendship and shared aspirations between the Filipino and Japanese. PHOTO FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
He will likewise advance the Philippines’ interests in the West Philippine Sea, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the cooperation with the United States and the Philippines’ candidature to the United Nations Security Council.
Marcos is slated to meet with Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae for a comprehensive discussion on common interests meant to strengthen Philippines-Japan relations and what it could contribute to regional and global peace and prosperity.
”It forms part of a broader foreign policy agenda to forge closer political ties, stronger defense and security cooperation, and more enduring economic partnerships with major countries in the region in order to advance the interests of the Filipino people, while promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity,” he said.
”Japan has been a major bilateral trade and official development partner, consistent in its commitment to uphold the same values aligned with our economic and developmental priorities,” he added.
Besides his face-to-face with Sanae, the chief executive, with first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, will have an audience with Japan’s Emperor and Empress at the Imperial Palace for a welcome ceremony and a state call.
Marcos’ first order of business upon arriving in Tokyo was a meeting with the Filipino community there.
In his absence, the chief executive has designated Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara and Agrarian Reform chief Conrado Estrella III as administrative caretakers.
AloJapan.com