Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos (Jr.) and Japan’s new Prime Minister, Ishiba Shigeru, agreed to strengthen bilateral relations and address pressing regional security issues.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Laos, where Marcos congratulated Ishiba after his inauguration, according to the Philippine newspaper The Star on Saturday.
Marcos stressed the importance of cooperation between the Philippines, Japan and the United States, saying he looked forward to working closely with the new Japanese leader. During the informal talks, Ishiba said that Japan seeks to enhance bilateral cooperation with the Philippines, especially in the field of defense and economic security.
The two leaders affirmed their commitment to the rapid implementation of the mutual access agreement, which was signed last July, which allows the deployment of forces on each other’s territories, as the two countries strengthen relations in light of China’s increasing influence.
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