AMID speculations over his health, President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, May 28, flew to Japan to attend Nikkei's 25th International Conference on the Future of Asia.
Duterte left the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City at around 4:53 p.m.
The annual gathering, according to Nikkei on its official website, will be graced by political, economic and academic leaders from the Asia-Pacific region who will "offer their opinions frankly and freely on regional issues and the role of Asia in the world."
In a press statement on Tuesday, the Palace said Duterte, who is expected to deliver a keynote speech on May 31, would emphasize the Philippines's "development goals and accomplishments, foreign policy thrusts, and insights on regional and global developments."
"President Rodrigo Roa Duterte leaves for Tokyo today for a working visit to further deepen the Philippines’ political and economic engagement with its key strategic partner, Japan," Malacañang said.
"This will be the President’s third visit to Japan, which he described as a friend of the Philippines that is 'closer than a brother," it added.
The President's attendance to the 25th International Conference on the Future of Asia marks his third visit to Japan since assuming office in 2016.
His previous visits to Japan were in October 2016 and October 2017, respectively.
Japan continues to be the Philippines’ biggest official development assistance partner, a major source of foreign direct investments, second largest trading partner and fourth highest source of tourist arrivals.
Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Meynardo Montealegre earlier said Duterte would likewise highlight Asia's role in charting its "own future" in his speech during the annual conference.
"Well, the President will likely assert Asia's role in charting its own future even as we affirmed the larger international frameworks and mechanisms that have given birth through the Asian century we now enjoy," Montealegre said in a press conference on May 24.
"He will likely also highlight how addressing domestic imperatives provides the conditions by which we will collectively shape Asia's future," he added.
On the sidelines of the annual forum, the President is scheduled to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The Palace said Duterte's meeting with Abe would "reaffirm the valued friendship between the Philippines and Japan and renew the shared commitment to further strengthen special ties and realize the common goals of Philippines-Japan Strengthened Strategic Partnership."
"The leaders will review the progress of agreements made in previous meetings," it said.
"They will also discuss cooperation in infrastructure development, trade and investments, agriculture, labor, defense, maritime security and maritime domain awareness, people-to-people exchanges, and the pursuit of just and lasting peace and progress in Mindanao," it added.
Duterte's visit to Japan is also expected to secure 10 deals that will be signed between Japanese and Philippine firms.
The Palace said the President would take the opportunity to meet with key Japanese industry and tourism leaders at a business forum "to encourage Japanese private sector investments in the country and to further heighten interest in the Philippines as a Japanese tourist destination of choice."
Duterte would also meet with the Filipino community in Japan and personally convey his appreciation for their "continuing sacrifice and contribution to the country’s socio-economic development," Malacañang said. (SunStar Philippines)