Philippine marines march between Philippine and Japanese flags prior to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's (not pictured) arrival for a wreath-laying ceremony at Jose Rizal's monument in Manila on Nov. 3, 2023. Ted Aljbe, AFP/File

MANILA — Japan's ambassador to the Philippines is hopeful that Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will have fruitful discussions with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo on his visit to Manila next week.

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuya Endo said this is Iwaya's first official visit to the Philippines as a new foreign minister and that the trip is the "first important visit from the Japanese side to Manila for this year".

Japan FM Takeshi Iwaya to visit Philippines next week

Speaking in a chance interview on the sidelines of a forum conducted by Stratbase ADR Institute on Friday, Kazuya said:  "I hope there will be sufficient discussions between the two foreign ministry secretaries and I hope this is going to be an important beginning of this important year."

The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said the bilateral meeting will discuss "political, defense, security, economic and development cooperation, as well as other areas of mutual concern". 

Philippines-Japan defense pact to allow troops' cooperation, training: AFP

Among the expected topics of discussion are the Reciprocal Access Agreement defining conduct of and custody over visiting troops.