Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 31) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to visit the Philippines on Nov. 3 to 4, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said on Tuesday.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will welcome Kishida at the Malacañan Palace on Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement issued by the PCO.
“The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting to discuss areas of mutual concern such as political, security, economic and development cooperation, as well as people-to-people ties,” the DFA said.
“The Japanese leader and the President are also expected to exchange views on regional and international issues, and reaffirm the excellent relations between the Philippines and Japan, which was elevated into a Strategic Partnership in 2011,” it added.
According to Kyodo News, Marcos and Kishida will consider going into negotiations for a “reciprocal access agreement” to facilitate the presence of visiting forces. CNN Philippines cannot independently verify this information as of this publishing.
The Philippines has been recording China’s increasing aggression in the West Philippine Sea. The latest incident in the contested waterway was the collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels near Ayungin Shoal on Oct. 22.
RELATED: PH to take ‘more resolute’ steps vs. China’s increasing aggression in WPS, says NSC
Marcos and Kishida last met in February in Tokyo, where they agreed to bolster Philippine-Japan ties and ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Marcos sealed $13 billion worth of investment pledges during his trip.
In July, Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa said Kishida is set to visit the country by the end of this year, while Marcos is expected to return to the East Asian nation for the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship in December.
