President Marcos will leave for Japan on Friday, Dec. 15, to participate in the 50th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan Relations in Tokyo.

He will depart in the afternoon and will stay in Japan until Dec. 18. It is the President's second trip to Japan this year.
Marcos' attendance to the ASEAN-Japan Summit, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), is important since Japan is one of the first dialogue partners of ASEAN and it is “one of the most dynamic partners.”
His participation will also be significant for the country as ASEAN also covers security matters such as defense and transnational crime and mutual legal assistance, mutual economic activities and cultural and people-to-people activities.
During his stay in Tokyo, the President is expected to follow up on the business deals forged in his first trip to Japan this year.
He will hold a roundtable meeting for a status report on the pledges and agreements signed during the February visit and the signing of new business agreements.
Marcos will have a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and will have an audience with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.
The Chief Executive will attend the main summit which will include a session that would discuss issues in the South China Sea, East China Sea, Myanmar, North Korea, and other international developments that have a bearing on ASEAN.
He will also be joining in sessions that will discuss people-to-people activities between ASEAN and Japan, which is deemed important for the Philippines as it is one of the major beneficiaries of youth and people to people exchange, especially the exchange of students.
Marcos is also expected to attend the Asia Zero Emissions Community, a separate regional organization composed of ASEAN, Japan, and Australia.
Meanwhile, the anticipated signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan is not guaranteed during Marcos' visit this time.
It might, however, be discussed during the bilateral meeting between the Philippines and Japan on the sidelines of the summit.
According to Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu, there is no chance at all for the defense pact to be signed as it is a bilateral matter and "will require a long time to make."