This handout photo taken and released on Feb. 9, 2023, by the Imperial Household Agency of Japan shows Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos (second from left) and his wife Louise Araneta-Marcos (left) meeting with Japan’s Emperor Naruhito (second from right) and Empress Masako (right) at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. (Photo from the Imperial Household Agency of Japan via Agence France-Presse)
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday wished “abundant blessings” for Japanese Emperor Naruhito on his birthday.
Marcos also committed to actively sustaining the “positive trajectory” of the Philippines’ relations with its long time-ally, Japan.
The president gave the well-wishes in his toast remarks at the National Day of Japan and the celebration of the birthday of Japanese Emperor Naruhito, whom Marcos met during his recent working visit to Tokyo.
“The breadth and depth of our engagement with Japan is a partnership for peace and progress, not only for Japan but certainly for the Philippines. Our strategic partnership is indeed stronger than ever,” Marcos said in a statement.
“I wish abundant happiness and blessings to His Majesty The Emperor as he leads Japan to continued prosperity and the promotion of peace,” he added.
In his meeting with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, Marcos conveyed the affection and admiration of the Filipino people, including the estimated 300,000 Filipinos who consider Japan their second home.
The president also met with Prime Minister Kishida and discussed a broad range of cooperation areas, “revealing just how responsive and robust our partnership has grown since we established diplomatic relations in 1956.”
“We had a harvest of several agreements from agriculture and infrastructure to defense and information and communications technology,” Marcos said.
In his speech, the president described Japan as a “friend, neighbor, and strategic partner.”
“Japan has been one of our steadfast partners in the efforts to realize the Philippines’ transformative agenda – in infrastructure, in social inclusion, in defense, to name but a few,” he said.
Marcos also emphasized the “vibrant” people-to-people cooperation in tourism and labor exchanges and lauded Japan’s unwavering support for peace and development in Mindanao.