Japan-Philippines Relations
Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru's Visit to the Philippines
(Dinner hosted by President Marcos of the Republic of the Philippines)
April 29, 2025
(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
On April 29, from 7:15 p.m. local time (8:15 p.m. Japan time) for approximately 70 minutes, Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, and his spouse, Mrs. ISHIBA Yoshiko, who are visiting the Philippines, attended the dinner hosted by H.E. Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., President of the Republic of the Philippines at the Malacanang Palace. The overview is as follows.
- The dinner was attended by Mr. AOKI Kazuhiko, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, Mr. NAGASHIMA Akihisa, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Dr. MORI Masafumi, Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Japan and others from the Japanese side, and by Madam Louise Araneta–Marcos, First Lady of the Philippines, Hon. Lucas P. Bersamin, Executive Secretary of the Republic of the Philippines and Hon. Enrique A. Manalo, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines and others from the Philippines side.
- After the welcome speech by President Marcos, Prime Minister Ishiba delivered a speech in which he reflected on the past bilateral exchanges that have built trust between Japan and the Philippines, and renewed his determination to build the future with the Philippines, Japan’s closest "neighbor."
- The dinner was held in a relaxed atmosphere throughout, with conversations covering a wide range of topics in bilateral relations, including cultural and sports exchanges, and the leaders and their wives of both countries deepened their personal relationship.