Ambassador Mylene Garcia-Albano met with Minister of Defense KIHARA Minoru on 20 December 2023. In her remarks, Ambassador Garcia-Albano observed that the intense tempo of high level exchanges in 2023, with the recently concluded and very successful visit of President Marcos to Japan for the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit, and Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to the Philippines in November where the Official Security Assistance was launched, demonstrates the deepening strategic partnership of the Philippines and Japan.

She acknowledged Japan’s enduring role in support of the Mindanao Peace Process, while also affirming Japan as the Philippines’ top investment partner and the top source of official development assistance. By enhancing the bilateral security and defense relationship with Japan, one of the Philippines’ most trusted partners, she hopes to generate positive outcomes for the Philippines and for the region. After discussions on bilateral initiatives, both sides committed to working together within the ambit of the ASEAN-Japan Defense Ministerial and working group Meetings.

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