On July 21, commencing at 5:05 p.m. local time for approximately 35 minutes, Motegi Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting the Philippines to attend the ASEAN-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings, paid a courtesy call on Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines.

At the outset, President Marcos welcomed Minister Motegi 's visit and expressed his gratitude to the Japanese side for his state visit to Japan in May this year, marking the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

In response, Minister Motegi stated that Japan wished to strengthen the bilateral relationship in a sustained and multi-layered manner, based on the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" which was elevated on the occasion of President Marcos' State Visit to Japan.

Minister Motegi stated that Japan wished to advance cooperation in the field of security, including through frameworks such as the Japan-U.S.-Philippines trilateral talks, and to promote concrete cooperation in the economic field, including initiatives to strengthen economic security such as the enhancement of supply chain resilience. President Marcos concurred on this point.

The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international affairs, including the situation in the South China Sea, and concurred on continuing close coordination toward the ASEAN-related Summit Meetings in November. Japan Information and Culture Center