President Benigno S. Aquino III and His Excellency Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, review the honor guards during the Arrival Ceremony at the Malacañan Palace Grounds for his Official Visit to the Republic of the Philippines on Saturday (July 27, 2013). The visit of Prime Minister Abe will further advance the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Japan. The last time that the prime minister of Japan visited the Philippines was in December 2006 when Prime Minister Abe visited Manila during his first term as the head of the Japanese Government. Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines. In 2012, Japan was the Philippines’ number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals. (MNS photo)
TOKYO, Japan (Mabuhay) – President Benigno S. Aquino III will pursue closer ties between the Philippines and Japan during his visit here this week for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan Commemorative summit.
President Aquino and the Philippine delegation are to take part in several events aimed at bolstering various aspects of Philippine-Japan friendship.
On Friday, the President is scheduled to receive an Honorary doctorate law degree from Sophia University.
The President is then expected to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for a bilateral meeting and a working lunch at the Prime Minister’s official residence.
He is then to meet with the Nippon Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) at the Keidanren Kaikan) in the afternoon.
The President will then join fellow ASEAN heads of state at tea hosted by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko at the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda, Tokyo.
Also on Friday, the President and the Philippine delegation will receive a courtesy call by the Japan Philippines Parliament Arians Friendship League (JPPFL) at the Imperial Hotel.
Expected to lead the JPPFL delegation are Minister of Justice Sadakazu Tanigaki as advisor; chairman Kenji Kosaka; vice chairman Takeshi Maeda; chief secretary Yukio Ubukata; and secretary-general Taku Otsuka.
Following this will be a social call by Bank of Japan Governor and Mrs. Haruhiko Kuroda.
On Friday evening, the President will join ASEAN heads of state at a dinner to be hosted by Prime Minister Abe and his wife Akie Abe at the Prime Minister’s official residence.
On Saturday, the President will take part at the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit at the Akasaka State Guest House, President Aquino may deliver a statement during the summit.
The President and fellow ASEAN heads of state will then take part in a lunch hosted by the Japan business community, including the Keidanren and the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
President Aquino will then join fellow ASEAN heads of state at the closing session of the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit.
Also on Saturday, the President will receive a courtesy call from former Japan International Cooperation Agency president Dr. Sadako Ogata, who is now advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and a special advisor to JICA President Akihiko Tanaka.
He will then meet with a delegation from the Sumotomo Mitsui Banking Corp., and witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding for an 850-room retirement community in Cebu City.
The President will likewise meet with representatives from Nidec Sankyo Corp.
President Aquino will then join fellow ASEAN heads of state at a gala dinner to be hosted by Prime Minister and Madame Abe.
He is expected to depart for Manila Saturday night and arrive in Manila early Sunday. (MNS)