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Japan, Philippines Seek to Strengthen Ties

TOKYO – The leaders of Japan and the Philippines held informal talks on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings in Laos on Oct. 10, as the nations aim to strengthen their relationship.

In a statement from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed his desire to “further enhance cooperation with Prime Minister [Shigeru] Ishiba,” while commending the “strengthening of bilateral relations between Japan and the Philippines and the progress in Japan-U.S.-Philippines cooperation.”

Ishiba, in turn, stated that he aims “to further deepen cooperation with the Philippines in the midst of an increasingly challenging regional security environment,” according to MOFA.

The two officials then confirmed that they would proceed with the procedures for the early entry into force of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) signed between Japan and the Philippines last July. They also exchanged views on cooperation in the areas of economic security and agricultural technology.

Ishiba made his diplomatic debut as Japan’s new prime minister during a three-day visit to Laos for the ASEAN-related summit meetings, declaring, “We must not tolerate any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion anywhere in the world.” - Florenda Corpuz

(President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., 2nd from left, and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, 6th from left, hold hands with other ASEAN leaders. Photo: Presidential Communications Office)