Japan’s foreign minister Motegi due in Manila

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will undertake an official visit to the Philippines from Jan. 8 to Jan. 9, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.

In a statement, the DFA said Motegi would hold a bilateral meeting with Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Jan. 9 to discuss current Philippine-Japan strategic partnership in the fields of political dialogues, economic and infrastructure cooperation, and defense and maritime security.

“The foreign ministers will also exchange views on developments in the regional security landscape,” the DFA said.

Also on the agenda is Japan’s support for Mindanao and the transition to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The DFA said that while in Manila, Motegi was also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on President Duterte.

Motegi’s visit will be his first to the Philippines since his being named to his post by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last Sept. 11, 2019.

The Philippines is part of Motegi’s four-country Southeast Asian swing that also includes stops in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.