PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte will return to Japan at the end of the month to further enhance the bilateral ties between the two countries, the Foreign Affairs department said Tuesday.
The agency said Duterte will be in Japan on Oct. 29 to 31 to discuss with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe “matters of mutual interest to both countries.”
“Aside from bilateral issues in the economic, industrial, social and security arena, discussions are also expected to include regional developments including peace and stability in the region, particularly in the Korean Peninsula,” the department said.
Duterte is also scheduled to meet other high-ranking Japanese government officials and the captains of industry.
Duterte’s trip to Japan trip was confirmed by Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga during a regular press conference in Tokyo.
“Japan and the Philippines have close ties and our strategic partnership can promote stability in the region,” Suga was quoted as saying in a Reuters report Wednesday.
Duterte and Abe were also expected to discuss regional developments including the tension in the Korean peninsula, Foreign Affairs said.
“Both sides are also expected to engage in dialogue relative to the Philippine chairmanship of the Asean and the preparations for the Prime Minister’s own return visit to the Philippines for the 31st Asean Summit and Related Meetings in Manila this November.”
In May, Duterte was prompted to cancel his June visit to Tokyo after a band of homegrown terrorists loyal to the Islamic State overran Marawi City.
The President was supposed to keynote the 23rd International Conference on the Future of Asia organized by the Japanese news agency Nikkei.
Duterte first visited Japan as President on Oct. 25 to 27 last year.