Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 3) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Manila on Friday afternoon for his two-day official visit to the country.

Upon his arrival, Kishida met with Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista for a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal at the Luneta Park.

The Japanese leader and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. later held a bilateral meeting at the Malacañan Palace where they discussed agreements to bolster ties between the two nations, especially in the areas of security and defense.
\”Japan and the Philippines are both maritime nations and strategic partners sharing a fundamental principles and values,\” said Kishida in his opening statement during the meeting.
“And as the international community faces complex crises, we would like to strengthen our cooperation with the Philippines to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law to ensure a world where human dignity is protected,\” he also said. \”I very much look forward to discussing issues with you in depth today.\”
Meanwhile, Marcos said the Philippine government is looking forward to more partnerships with Japan.
\”Our meeting today builds upon the momentum of the recent past and we look forward to expanding cooperation especially in key areas such as economic development, development cooperation, and security cooperation,\” he said. \”I believe that the bedrock of any relationship is that of people-to-people exchanges.\”
Kishida and Marcos first met in February in Tokyo, where they agreed to strengthen Philippine-Japan ties and ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Marcos secured $13 billion (around ₱708 billion) in investment pledges during his five-day official working visit to Japan.

The Japanese prime minister will also address the Philippine Congress on Saturday in a special joint session.