This will be interesting.
On Tue, Oct 25, President Rodrigo Duterte left for a three-day official visit to Japan that aims to further bolster the diplomatic and economic ties between Manila and Tokyo.
This is Duterte’s sixth foreign trip since his inauguration last Jun 30. It’s one of the major events highlighting the 60th anniversary of the normalization of Philippine-Japanese relations.
“This official visit will be a valuable opportunity to further deepen and broaden the Philippines’ relationship with Japan, our valued strategic partner and one of our true friends,” Duterte said in his departure speech at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 2.
Duterte noted that his trip is in response to the invitation extended to him by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the sidelines of the recent ASEAN Summit in Laos.
He also said he looks forward to meeting business leaders in Japan and to inform them that the Philippines is now open for business. Thus, he intends to invite the Japanese businessmen to invest in infrastructure development in the Philippines and in high-quality and modern public transportation.
While in Japan, the President will also meet with leaders of the Japan-Philippines Parliamentarians Friendship League to seek greater interaction between the two countries’ legislators.
Duterte is also scheduled to visit the Japan Marine United Corp., maker of vessels provided for the Philippine Coast Guard, in Yokohama City.
Moreover, Duterte will also have a state call on His Majesty, Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace at 5pm on Thu, Oct 27. —Philippine News Agency (PNA)
