President Ferdinand Marcos on Sunday also held his first bilateral meeting with Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, extending his congratulations to the new head of state on the sidelines of the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in Kuala Lumpur.

''She stated her desire to further strengthen relations with the Philippines, as a strategic partner, toward realizing a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP),'' Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Sunday.

The FOIP was an initiative of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Both leaders looked forward to celebrating the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan in 2026, the Presidential News Desk said.

Marcos also held bilateral meetings with the leaders of Canada, Thailand, Cambodia and the European Council.

Marcos highlighted the deepening cooperation between the two countries in the defense and security sector, particularly noting the entry into force of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan in September 2025.

With the Philippines assuming chairmanship of the ASEAN and with both countries celebrating the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations in 2026, ''both leaders concurred on continuing close coordination in addressing various international challenges, including the situation in the South China Sea, responses to North Korea encompassing nuclear and missile issues and the abduction issue, the situations in Myanmar, and the situations in the Cambodia-Thailand border areas,'' the MOFA statement said.

News reports said Marcos invited Takaichi to visit the Philippines next year during the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

"We discussed our respective issues of concern frankly," Takaichi told reporters after the meeting. DMS