Marcos, Japan PM to meet April 29 to tackle regional, global issues

FILE: Ishiba is elected as Prime Minister by the Diet, 1 October 2024. (Photo By 首相官邸 (PMO)/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0)

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at Malacañan Palace in Manila on April 29 to discuss regional and global issues.

Malacañang announced Wednesday that Kishiba will undertake an official visit to the Philippines on April 29 to 30.

“The meeting of President Marcos and Prime Minister Ishiba will aim to deepen and improve economic and development cooperation, political and defense engagements, and people-to-people exchanges,” the Palace said in a statement.

“Both leaders are also expected to exchange views on regional and global developments, and explore new pathways towards peace and stability under the ‘Strengthened Strategic Partnership’ between the two countries,” it added.

Marcos will be joined by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos in welcoming Ishiba and his spouse, Ishiba Yoshiko, at Malacañan Palace on April 29.

Marcos already met with Ishiba in Vientiane, Laos on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summits in October 2024.

Ishiba aims to reach an agreement with Marcos on starting discussions for forming a military intelligence-sharing pact between Japan and the Philippines, known as the General Security of Military Information Agreement or GSOMIA, according to the Jiji Press’ previous report.

Ishiba and Marcos are also expected to agree to begin negotiations on an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement that would allow for the mutual supply of ammunition and fuel.

Ishiba is also scheduled to inspect a coastal surveillance radar system and other equipment provided under Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework to emphasize the two countries’ quasi-alliance relationship.

He is also expected to meet with stateless people born to Japanese nationals and left in the Philippines after World War II to convey Tokyo’s support for them acquiring Japanese nationality.