MANILA, Philippines — Japanese Ambassador Kitagawa Katsuro has pledged to enhance the strategic ties between Japan and the Philippines during his tenure in Manila.
“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,” the envoy stated.
Kitagawa formally presented his credentials to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Malacañang Palace on Thursday, October 1, followed by a brief meeting to review the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
Before his posting in Manila, Kitagawa held prominent roles within Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, serving as Director-General of both the European Affairs Bureau and the Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department.
He has also served in foreign diplomatic assignments in France and South Korea.
During their discussion, the ambassador reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by expanding collaboration in defense, economic growth, and cultural exchanges.
In response, President Marcos highlighted the history of cooperation between the two nations.
“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,” Marcos said.
The diplomatic milestone coincides with 70 years of bilateral relations between the Philippines and Japan.
Japan stands as one of the Philippines’ primary economic partners, ranking as its second-largest trading partner in 2025 with $22.2 billion in total trade. It also remains the country’s top source of Official Development Assistance (ODA), contributing nearly $13.96 billion in loans and grants as of late 2025.
As of June 2026, the two nations have established over 300 bilateral agreements spanning defense, infrastructure, trade, and regional development in Mindanao.