MALACANANG on Tuesday formally announced President Benigno Aquino III's trip to Japan next week to attend a peace conference.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that Aquino will embark on a whole day trip to Japan on June 24 upon the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Aquino will be the guest speaker at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) International Conference in Hiroshima, he said.

Before heading for Hiroshima, Aquino and Abe will hold a summit meeting over lunch at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Tokyo, the Palace official said.

After speaking in Hiroshima, the President will return home to Manila, he added.

Coloma could not tell yet the possible agenda of the meeting between the two leaders, saying the Department of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with its Japanese counterpart, is handling the matter.

Both the Philippines and Japan are engaged in territorial rows with China.

Aquino last visited Japan in December last year when he attended the 40th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-Japan commemorative summit. (SDR/Sunnex)