Press Releases
Dinner Meeting Between Foreign Minister Kishida and Philippine President Duterte
On Tuesday, October 25, commencing at around 8 p.m. for approximately two hours, Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a dinner meeting with H.E. Mr. Rodrigo R. Duterte, President of the Republic of the Philippines. The overview of the dinner banquet is as follows (participants included Mr. Kiyoshi Odawara, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, for the Japan side and H.E. Mr. Perfecto Yasay, Jr., Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and other ministers in the entourage for the Philippine side).
1. Minister Kishida offered a heartfelt welcome to President Duterte on his first visit to Japan as President and expressed his happiness for the realization of both a visit to the Philippines by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan, and the visit by President Duterte to Japan in this year that commemorates the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines. President Duterte voiced appreciation for being able to visit Japan and the invitation, and gratitude from the Philippines for Japan’s assistance. He commented that while it might not be possible in his generation, the next generation hopes to give back.
2. Conversation at the dinner meeting covered the history of friendship between Japan and the Philippines, links between Davao and Japan, regional conditions including the President’s visit to China, and other topics. The meeting took place in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere that enabled frank discussion of thoughts about advancing the relationship between the two countries and other matters.