Photo Release

Philippines-Japan Strategic Partnership takes a major step forward: Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero received visiting Japanese Foreign Minister KAMIKAWA Yoko at the Senate Ceremonial Hall on 9 July 2024, where both sides discussed the continuing collaboration between the Philippines and Japan on a broad range of areas such as trade, development assistance, people-to-people exchanges and especially in defense and security. Minister Kamikawa also highlighted Japan’s major contribution to the “Build, Better, More” infrastructure program of the Philippines which now amounted to ¥900 billion in 2 years, as well as the increased tourist arrivals between the Philippines and Japan reaching 620,000 and 310,000 tourists, respectively, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Both officials agreed that the recently signed Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) is a major step towards maintaining the peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific while at the same time, ensuring the economic prosperity of the region. The Senate President assured the Japanese Foreign Minister that once the Agreement is transmitted to the Senate, it will prioritize its consideration as soon as Congress resumes its sessions.

(From left to right: Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, H.E. ENDO Kazuya, visiting Japanese Foreign Minister, the Honorable KAMIKAWA Yoko, Senate President Francis G. Escudero and DFA-Office of Asian and Pacific Affairs Assistant Secretary Aileen Mendiola-Rau)