Japan PM Kishida conveys sympathy over deaths of Filipinos in Hamas attack
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has expressed his sympathy over the deaths of Filipinos in the Hamas attack in Israel last month.

Kishida conveyed his sympathies to the Philippines as he and President Marcos opened their bilateral meeting on Friday night, Nov. 3, at the Malacañan Palace.
"Allow me to first express my condolences for the Filipino citizens that were killed in the terrorist attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas," Kishida said before proceeding with his opening statement for the bilateral meeting.
Marcos thanked the visiting Prime Minister by saying, "thank you, Prime Minister, for your kind words of sympathy for the Filipino lives that have been lost in the attack of Israel by Hamas."
In opening their bilateral talks, the two leaders expressed their hopes for continuing engagements on various areas such as economic development, development cooperation, and security cooperation.
Marcos particularly hoped that the trilateral engagement among the Philippines, Japan, and the United States would expand to cover other crucial aspects.
"While we continue to enhance our bilateral relations, I am pleased that the trilateral engagements at various fronts among the Philippines, Japan, and United States have commenced at the start of this year. I look forward to continuing this form of engagement and to expand it further to cover other equally important aspects," Marcos said.
Kishida, for his part, expressed Japan's intention to strengthen both countries' cooperation, especially in maintaining "a free and open international order based on the rule of law" to ensure "a world where human dignity is protected."
"Japan and the Philippines are both maritime nations and strategic partners sharing fundamental principles and values. And as the international community faces complex crises, we would like to strengthen our cooperation with the Philippines to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law to ensure a world where human dignity is protected," the Prime Minister said.
"I very much look forward to discussing issues with you in depth today," he added.
The two officials were expected to discuss issues in the West Philippine Sea, Japan's Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the Philippines, their political and security cooperation and economic and people-to-people relations.