(UPDATE) Aquino leaves for Japan to attend peace forum

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - President Benigno Aquino III left Manila today for a one-day visit to Japan where he will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and address a peace conference.

Aquino, in his departure message, said he would discuss ways to achieve a lasting peace and development in southern Philippines with Abe.

He will also thank Japan for its assistance to the peace process resulting to the signing of a comprehensive peace deal between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the largest Muslim rebel group in the country.

After his meeting with Abe in Tokyo, Aquino will proceed to Hiroshima to address the peace conference initiated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The topic of the conference will be the implementation of the peace deal between the Philippine government and the MILF.

"We will share the success of signing the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and our next step towards the achievement of peace in Mindanao," he said.

Aquino will return to Manila Tuesday night.

It is the fifth time that Aquino visits Japan since he assumed office in 2010. Japan is one of the two strategic partners of the Philippines apart from the United States.