Japanese Foreign Minister to Visit Philippines, Strengthening Bilateral Ties

Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi will travel to the Philippines next week to reinforce Japan’s dedication to its ‘strengthened strategic partnership’ with the nation, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The visit, scheduled for January 14 to 15, will include a bilateral meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. The agenda will cover discussions on political, defense, security, economic, and development cooperation, alongside other mutual interests. The ministers will also share perspectives on regional and global developments. The DFA emphasized that, given the increasingly complex security landscape, the visit aims to reaffirm the commitment to enhancing the strategic partnership and exploring new cooperative ventures. The recent signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) in July 2024 between the Philippines and Japan is seen as a significant step towards ensuring a secure and peaceful Asia-Pacific region. The RAA is expected to pave the way for deeper security engagement once fully implemented. This visit coincides with preparations for celebrating the 70th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral relations in 2026.