The Philippine government is hosting a vice-ministerial dialogue with Japan on September 7, which is seen to boost the two nations’ strategic partnership under the Marcos administration.

The 5th Vice-Ministerial Strategic Dialogue (VMSD) will be led by Japan’s Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Shigeo Yamada and Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Maria Theresa Lazaro in Manila and will cover cooperation on security and economic issues, as well as regional and international affairs.

The Japanese Embassy in Manila said it is “expected to lead to further progress in the strategic partnership between the two countries under the Marcos administration.”

The VMSD is an undersecretary-level bilateral mechanism that serves as a venue for both countries to discuss a wide range of important issues.

Talks during the last meeting, which was held in Tokyo in June 2018, covered developments in the West Philippine Sea, Japan’s history of assistance in Mindanao, the reconstruction of Marawi, and Tokyo’s support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its centrality.

Increased interactions between the two nations over the past years have signaled the continuous upward trajectory in their so-called “strengthened strategic partnership”.

Last April 2022, Manila and Tokyo inaugurated the Philippines-Japan Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (2+2) in Tokyo, expanding security and defense cooperation between the two countries. (PNA)