Japan Foreign Minister to Visit Philippines

Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida is scheduled to visit the Philippines on 10 August for a three-day visit. The Philippines will the first country to be visited by FM Kishida after his reappointment as Foreign Minister of Japan on 3 August 2016 after Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reshuffled his cabinet. This will be the first meeting of President Duterte with a Japanese Cabinet member after becoming president.

According to the news, “Kishida is expected to confirm cooperation with Yasay in urging China to accept a recent international tribunal ruling that rejected the legal basis for Beijing’s claims to almost all of the South China Sea.”

FM Kishida also said that, “It is important to communicate with the new Philippines government. I would like to firmly confirm friendly ties.”

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), FM Kishida will be treated to a merienda cena (early evening meal) in meeting President Duterte. ●