Inaugural PH- Japan Foreign and Defense Ministerial Talks in Tokyo a Milestone in Decade-long Strategic Partnership

(Tokyo PE Photo)

PASAY CITY 09 April 2020 – In a significant milestone in their decade-old Strategic Partnership, the Philippines and Japan held their first Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting on 9 April 2022 in Tokyo, Japan.

The Philippine delegation was co-led by Secretary of Foreign Affairs Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., and Secretary of Defense Delfin N. Lorenzana. Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs HAYASHI Yoshimasa and Minister of Defense KISHI Nobuo led the Japanese side. 

The ministers hailed the establishment of the 2+2 talks as a key aspect in deepening security and defense cooperation between the two countries.  They also issued a Joint Statement reflecting the discussions that took place and the points of consensus they reached. They also noted the Terms of Reference on the 2+2 talks. The 2+2 with Japan is the Philippines’ second, after the United States. 

In his closing remarks, Secretary Locsin said, “We have laid the groundwork for the next decade of our strategic partnership. We have achieved a substantive clarification of all the issues and in many of them produced consensus. The security ties we are developing are much less than those of an alliance but much more than a cordial relationship.”

In addition to the 2+2 Meeting, Secretary Locsin and Secretary Lorenza separately met with their respective counterparts for bilateral discussions. In his meeting with Foreign Minister Hayashi, Secretary Locsin highlighted the Philippines’ commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, and functional fields. Japan has been a reliable partner of the Philippines in its development agenda, capability-building initiatives, and COVID-19 recovery efforts. Both sides agreed on the importance of rules-based order that will allow both countries to remain resilient in light of emerging realities in the geopolitical arena. 

Secretary Locsin and Secretary Lorenzana paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio on 8 April 2022, ahead of the 2+2 meeting. The Prime Minister welcomed the two Philippine ministers to Japan and recalled his visits to the Philippines. PM Kishida said that PH-Japan relations enjoy a golden age. He expressed confidence in the success of the inaugural 2+2 meeting. END

(Tokyo PE Photo)