Japan FM Taro Kono to visit PHL

Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono will be in the Philippines for a three-day official visit to hold talks with Philippine officials aimed at further bolstering ties between Manila and Tokyo, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

Kono, who will be in the country from Feb. 9 to 11, will meet with counterpart Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin on Sunday in Davao to hold bilateral discussions on areas of mutual interest, including political, economic, and people-to-people engagement, especially Japan’s support for infrastructure development and for Mindanao in the wake of the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law.

"The visit of Foreign Minister Kono is a testament to the strengthened strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan, and an affirmation of our longstanding bilateral friendship," the DFA said in a statement.

While in Davao, Kono will also call on President Rodrigo Duterte and meet with other Cabinet officials.

In his talks with Philippine officials, diplomatic sources said Kono is expected to raise issues on regional maritime security, including disputes in the resource-rich South China Sea.

The Philippines and Japan are both embroiled in separate territorial disputes with China. The Philippines is locked in a long-running sea row with China over parts its exclusive economic zone being claimed by Beijing off the West Philippine Sea, while Japan and China are contesting ownership over islands called Senkaku by Japan and Diaoyu in Chinese. —KBK, GMA News