PRESIDENT Marcos Jr. is set to go on an official visit to Japan on February 8 to 12 during which at least seven key agreements between Manila and Tokyo will be signed along with several business deals, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.
The trip, according to DFA Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Neal Imperial, is expected to reaffirm strong relations between the Philippines and Japan.
It will be Marcos’ first visit to Japan, since becoming president, and his second face-to-face-meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida whom he met last year on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in the United States.
Marcos’ visit to Japan, his third since the start of the year and his 10th since becoming president, is on the invitation of the Japanese prime minister.
“The official working visit is expected to reaffirm the strong and vibrant relations between the two countries. It also seeks to maximize the full potential of PH-Japan strategic partnership in all its aspects and facilitate closer defense, security, political, economic, and people to people ties,” Imperial said.
Imperial said Japan is the only country with which the Philippines has a free trade agreement, or the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement.
Japan is the country’s second largest trading partner, the third largest export market of the country, and second top source of imports.
AGREEMENTS
Imperial said seven key bilateral documents or agreements covering cooperation in infrastructure development, defense, agriculture and information and communications technology between the two countries will be signed during the visit on top of several business deals.
Asked to elaborate on the key agreements, Imperial said the Department of National Defense and the Ministry of Defense of Japan will sign the “umbrella terms of reference” on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief cooperation, and exchange of notes about a $3billion loan agreements on infrastructure projects such as the North-South Commuter Railway from Malolos in Bulacan to Tutuban in Manila and the North-South Commuter Railway Extension from Malolos to Clark International Airport, and from Tutuban to Calamba in Laguna.
He did not elaborate on the proposed memorandum of cooperation in the field of information and communications technology, and on agriculture but expressed hope that the visit will result in more exports of agricultural products to Japan especially bananas and avocado.
MEETINGS
The President will also meet with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.
He will also have “roundtable” business meetings and forums on February 9 and 10, including one with chief executive officers of Japanese shipping companies and associations, which is expected to enhance the global competitiveness of Filipino seafarers and advance partnerships on maritime education and welfare programs for Filipino seafarers.
Marcos will also meet with members of the Filipino community in Tokyo before he returns to Manila.
Imperial said he does not expect the Japan trip to be affected by issues about Filipino comfort women during World War II and about four Japanese fugitives detained in the Philippines. He said case of the fugitives who Japan want deported is a matter now being handled by the Department of Justice and Japan’s Ministry of Justice.
“We don’t think it will affect, in any way, the visit of the President and we do not expect it to be raised during his meeting with counterpart,” he said.
Marcos will be joined in the five-day Japan trip by a “large business delegation,” Imperial said, together with First Lady Louise “Lisa” Marcos, former president and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Speaker Martin Romualdez, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Energy Secretary Rafael Lotilla, Tourism Secretary Cristina Frasco, Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil, and Special Assistant to the President Antonio Lagdameo Jr.
