President Marcos revealed that the Philippines and Japan have agreed to begin the negotiation on the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), an agreement on the provision of supplies and services between the two countries' defense force.

Both countries arrived at an agreement during Marcos' bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru at the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday, April 29.

"Japan has been of great assistance in helping us achieve our aspiration for peace and friendship with all nations with strength and with integrity," Marcos said during their joint press conference following the bilateral talks.

"Further, we have agreed to start negotiations on an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement," Marcos announced.

The President labeled Japan's development assistance to the Philippines as the "gold standard" for development cooperation.

"We appreciate Japan’s development assistance, which we see as the gold standard for development cooperation. It is primarily because it supports our maritime domain awareness, infrastructure, food security, improved climate change adaptability, digital transformation, agriculture, space, cyber technology, health, energy, and many others," he stressed.

Manila and Tokyo's development cooperation, he added, has also played a significant role in the Mindanao Peace Process.

He noted that the Philippines is the first recipient of Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA), which has allowed the Philippines' security agencies, especially the Department of National Defense (DND), to achieve meaningful upgrades.

The Chief Executive further underscored that his engagement with Ishiba on Tuesday laid the groundwork for a future-facing relationship.

"With strategic focus, my discussions with Prime Minister Ishiba today have indeed laid the groundwork for that resonant and inspiring future across many, many sectors, so that our two peoples see meaningful outcomes in their everyday lives and in the lives of their families," he said.

"I look forward to continuing our Strengthened Strategic Partnership with Japan, a country that shares our ideals and aspirations of upholding democratic institutions and a rules-based international order," he added.

Disaster prevention

During their bilateral meeting, Ishiba expressed Tokyo's intention to work with Manila in disaster prevention efforts, emphasizing the countries' shared challenges in terms of disaster prevention.

"The Philippines and Japan are neighbors, connected by the ocean, and we are also an ally of the United States. Our two countries are bound by fundamental values, including the rule of law, as well as shared challenges in the area of security, economy, and disaster prevention," Ishiba said in his opening statement during their bilateral talks.

"And in fact, on the sea, our geographical future from the Philippines is even connected to the peninsula of Izu. So we need to be fully prepared and work together in case of natural disasters," he added.

Golden age of PH-Japan ties

Marcos said the Japanese official's timely visit to Manila highlighted the stability, harmony, mutual respect, and immense benefit that both countries bring to each other.

He further said that these are signs of both sides' "golden age of relations."

"Signs that we are indeed in the golden age of our relations. Significant as we mark the 10th year of our strengthened strategic partnership," he said in his opening statement during their bilateral meeting.

"Next year we will celebrate a milestone 70th year of the normalization of our diplomatic ties. The fruits of seven decades of engagement attest to a deeply meaningful relationship where our two peoples feel the benefit of our diplomacy," he said.

"But this is also where we lay the groundwork for the future – as we look at seven decades of our shared history to lay the groundwork for a resonant and inspiring future where we engage across all sectors," Marcos went on.

The President also congratulated Japan for the successful opening of the Expo 2025 Osaka, expressing that the Philippines is excited and proud to be part of it.

According to Marcos, they were able to discuss the two countries' diplomatic, political, security, and defense cooperation.

He said that the two nations' uninterrupted exchange of high-level visits over many years has demonstrated the importance that both sides accord to their bilateral relations.

"These are the hallmarks of a truly golden age in our bilateral relationship," he said.

Ishiba is in Manila for a two-day official visit.