Secretary Locsin Holds Second Bilateral Meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Kono Taro

TOKYO 31 May 2019 — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. held a bilateral meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Kono Taro in Tokyo to continue their discussions on further elevating cooperation between the Philippines and Japan under a “strengthened strategic partnership” on 29 May 2019 at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo. 

The meeting comes three months after the two foreign ministers met in Davao on 10 February 2019.

Secretary Locsin emphasized the profound and abiding friendship on which bilateral ties are founded, attested to by Japan’s generous support through the years. 

For his part, Foreign Minister Kono stressed the deep relationship between the two countries, describing it in President Duterte’s own words of Japan as being “a friend closer than a brother”.

The two foreign ministers vowed to further advance cooperation, particularly in defense and security, economic cooperation, infrastructure development and the development of the Bangsamoro region. They also exchanged views on regional issues of mutual concern, including the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea.

Secretary Locsin is in Tokyo to accompany President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who is participating in the 25th Nikkei Conference on the Future of Asia and is meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. The visit is Secretary Locsin’s first to Japan since assuming office. END