Philippine President to Make State Visit to Japan in May

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government plans to invite Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as a state guest in late May, government officials said Wednesday. Marcos is expected to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and attend a banquet at the Imperial Palace hosted by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako. Takaichi and Marcos are likely to discuss energy cooperation amid the conflict in Iran and security cooperation to counter China’s increasing coercion. Marcos is also expected to deliver a speech at the Diet, Japan’s parliament. Japan and the Philippines mark the 70th anniversary of diplomatic normalization this year. The Philippines, this year’s chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, has been seeking to strengthen security cooperation with Japan in recent years. Manila plays a key role in efforts to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. Marcos will be the first foreign leader to make a state visit to Japan since a trip by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in March last year. The last state visit by a Philippine president was in 2015. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]