President’s Hall, Malacañan Palace
April 29, 2025
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru of Japan reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening and deepening diplomatic ties, outlining key discussion topics from their bilateral meeting in the Joint Leaders’ Statement at the President’s Hall in Malacañan Palace.
In his remarks, President Marcos Jr. praised Japan as a reliable and steadfast partner in the region, noting that Japan remains the Philippines’ second-largest economic partner. He emphasized the significance of the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (PJEPA) in fostering economic opportunities, trade and investments that benefit Filipino workers and entrepreneurs.
Development cooperation between the two countries was also a central theme during their discussions. President Marcos Jr. acknowledged Japan’s role as a “gold standard” in aid and assistance. He cited Japan’s support across various sectors, including maritime security, infrastructure, food security, climate change resilience, digital transformation, agriculture, space technology, health and energy. Notably, Japan’s aid has been instrumental in advancing the Mindanao Peace Process, helping uplift communities and promote economic growth in Mindanao.
On security, the Chief Executive shared that the Philippines was the first recipient of Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) program which has enabled Filipino security agencies to upgrade their capabilities.
“With strategic focus, my discussions with Prime Minister Ishiba today have indeed laid the groundwork for that resonant and inspiring future across many, many sectors, so that our two peoples see meaningful outcomes in their everyday lives and in the lives of their families,” he said.
For his part, Prime Minister Ishiba expressed gratitude for the warm reception and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to deepening the partnership. He pledged to strengthen this diplomatic bond through enhanced communication and cooperation across multiple sectors.
On economic collaboration, Prime Minister Ishiba conveyed Japan’s intention to support the Philippines in reaching upper-middle-income status by leveraging Japanese expertise in telecommunications, energy, minerals, infrastructure and disaster risk reduction. Both leaders discussed expanding cooperation in agriculture and expressed hope to further deepen their partnership.
They also discussed regional and global issues, sharing concerns over attempts to alter the status quo in the East and South China Seas through force or coercion. Both emphasized the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law. Additionally, they discussed the impacts of global economic shifts, including United States (U.S.) tariff measures and the trade tensions between the U.S. and China which affect the Philippine economy and Japanese business interests in the country.
Both leaders agreed to initiate negotiations on the Acquisition Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) to bolster bilateral security cooperation, alongside discussions on a potential Security of Information Agreement. They also reaffirmed the importance of trilateral cooperation involving Japan, the Philippines and the U.S. to promote regional stability.
Concluding his remarks, Prime Minister Ishiba invited Filipinos to visit Japan to celebrate the Filipino National Day on June 7 and to experience the ongoing Kansai Exposition and other districts in Japan.
Marking another significant milestone, both leaders look forward to celebrating the 70th year of the normalization of diplomatic ties next year, reaffirming their commitment to fostering a resilient, peaceful and prosperous partnership that benefits future generations.
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