Japanese Special Envoy Mr. Kishida Fumio, representing Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, visited the Philippines for high-level talks with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin. The visit highlights Japan’s growing focus on enhancing regional energy security, economic growth, and decarbonization through the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC).
During his meeting with President Marcos, Mr. Kishida emphasized the importance of resilient energy supply systems, particularly in light of the current geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. He reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to strengthening the AZEC initiative, which aims to balance energy security and economic growth with environmental sustainability. Mr. Kishida also announced plans for the 4th AZEC Leaders Meeting to be co-hosted by Japan and the Philippines in November, marking a significant milestone in the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Both leaders agreed to deepen collaboration on the Partnership On Wide Energy and Resources Resilience (POWERR Asia) and strengthen AZEC’s role in addressing both energy and economic challenges. President Marcos expressed appreciation for Japan’s continued support and highlighted the increasing importance of AZEC initiatives in the current global context.
Later, Mr. Kishida met with Secretary Garin, commending the Philippines’ active participation in AZEC. The two discussed plans for advancing joint projects under AZEC, particularly ahead of the upcoming Ministerial Meeting in September. Garin expressed eagerness to collaborate with Japanese companies to drive concrete energy solutions in the region.
The visit signals a deepening economic and energy partnership between Japan and the Philippines, with a strong focus on future cooperation in energy resilience and decarbonization.
