Marcos back home from four-day Japan trip

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. answers questions from the media during the last day of the ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Commemorative Summit in Tokyo, Japan on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. (Photo by YUMMIE DINGDING / PPA POOL)

TOKYO, Japan — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. arrived in the Philippines on Monday from his four-day trip to Japan.

The presidential plane left Tokyo at 7:16 p.m. after a meeting with business leaders and the Asia Zero Emission Community leaders. The aircraft touched down in Manila at 10:38 pm.

“My administration will see to it that our constructive engagements with Asean, our external partners, our stakeholders continue to best serve our national interest in as much as we promote the regional interest of peace and prosperity for the wellbeing of our people,” Marcos said in a video message posted online after his arrival.

“Without a doubt, this summit reaffirmed the robust and enduring character of Asean-Japan relations,” he added.

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Marcos also had a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, followed by an exchange of memoranda of cooperation for each country’s coast guard and environmental agencies.

Shortly before he left for the Philippines, Marcos had dinner with Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, wherein the he expressed solidarity with Japan’s efforts to achieve regional peace.