Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro will host Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Manila on 15 January for an official visit and bilateral talks, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a January 9 news release.
The meeting will review key developments under the Philippines-Japan Strengthened Strategic Partnership and exchange views on regional and international issues, including the Philippines’ ASEAN chairship and the situation in the South China Sea. The visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Manila and Tokyo.
Diplomatic sources say the talks take place amid a more uncertain global environment, prompting closer coordination between the two partners. Recent U.S. policy shifts — from unilateral security actions to a pullback from multilateral institutions — have underscored the value of tighter Philippine-Japanese alignment on international law, maritime security, and rules-based order messaging.
For Manila and Tokyo, closer engagement also carries economic and business relevance. Japan remains a key partner in infrastructure financing, development assistance, and technology, while discussions on labor mobility, skills exchange, and supply-chain resilience are gaining momentum as both countries diversify partnerships within Asia.
Officials expect the Lazaro-Motegi meeting to reaffirm shared commitments to stability in the Indo-Pacific and to deepen practical cooperation that supports trade, investment, and regional confidence amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.