MANILA, Philippines — Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio had a telephone conversation yesterday with presumptive president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during which he personally extended his congratulations to the former senator for his apparent election victory.
According to the Japanese embassy in Manila, Kishida expressed his wish to take the bilateral strategic partnership between the two countries under the incoming administration.
“Prime Minister Kishida expressed his resolve to continue cooperation on the economic front such as infrastructure development including railways and Subic Bay development, as well as in the security and coast guard law enforcement fields, through the High Level Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation and the Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting, among others,” the embassy said.
Marcos, for his part, stressed the importance of the Japan-Philippine relations and communicated his intention to deepen cooperation with Kishida in a wide range of areas.
During the 15-minute phone call, Kishida also expressed his wish for future close coordination with Marcos for the realization of a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”
According to the embassy, “the two leaders concurred on future coordination to realize regional peace and prosperity.”
Marcos and Kishida also agreed to hold an in-person meeting as early as possible.
Kishida and Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa earlier issued letters of congratulations to Marcos and presumptive vice president Sara Duterte-Carpio, respectively, for their victories.
“Prime Minister Kishida, in the letter, extended his congratulations to President-elect Marcos, and conveyed his determination to further promote cooperation as Strategic Partners in a wide range of areas toward the realization of a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific,’” the Japanese embassy in Manila said in a statement.
“Minister Hayashi, in the letter, extended his congratulations to Vice President-elect Duterte and, with reference to the history of people-to-people exchanges of the two countries in Davao where she originates, conveyed his hope for further deepening of the bilateral friendly relations,” it added.
“I thank Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for his warm congratulatory message via a phone call this (Friday) morning. We were able to have a preliminary discussion about Japan-Philippines partnership, which I said is very important and has been one of mutual benefit to our two countries,” Marcos said in a press statement.
“I told him that I would like to deepen the cooperation in a wide range of fields in the future and we agreed to work together to strengthen it,” Marcos said.
“The partnership of Japan and the Philippines has been one of mutual benefit to our two countries and I hope not only to continue but to increase all of our engagements in every aspect of our relations,” Marcos said in a post in his official Twitter account.
Marcos said that he and Kishida also exchanged views on “current regional developments,” adding that both of them have committed “to work together for peace and prosperity in the region.”
Marcos said they also agreed to meet face-to-face as soon as possible and engage in a “deeper dialogue.”