By Dean Aubrey CaratiquetIn two separate engagements, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed Japanese Ambassador-designate Kitagawa Katsuro and French Ambassador-designate Donatienne Hissard at Malacañang on Thursday.
Ambassador Kitagawa has held several senior positions at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including as Director-General of the European Affairs Bureau and Director-General of the Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department. He likewise served in Japanese diplomatic missions in France and the Republic of Korea.
During his meeting with the President, Ambassador Kitagawa said he would work to deepen the Philippines-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership further.
He told the President, “I shall exert every possible effort to further deepen our strategic partnership through the steady progress of cooperation in a wide range of areas such as security, economy, and people-to-people exchange.”
President Marcos Jr. responded, “The decades-long friendship between our two countries has reached a level never before seen in the history of our vibrant and dynamic relations. We hope to continue to foster this partnership for the benefit of both our countries and our peoples.”
2026 marked 70 years of normalized relations between both nations, as well as 15 years of having a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which took effect in 2011.
The East Asian nation serves as a home for 337,227 Filipinos and was also the Philippines’ second-largest trading partner in 2025.
This mutual relationship is likewise reflected in the 306 bilateral agreements that focus on trade and investment, transfer of defense equipment and technology, and infrastructure and Mindanao development as of press time.
The Chief Executive also welcomed H.E. Ambassador Hissard, as she presented her credentials that highlighted 79 years of relationship between the Philippines and France since June 26, 1947.
Home to 33,678 Filipinos, the European nation also has partnerships with Manila in the – following areas:
- Development cooperation
- Air services
- Cultural cooperation
- Defense cooperation
- Film cooperation
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