Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to discuss security issues with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte when they meet on Wednesday.
Duterte will visit Japan for 3 days starting on Tuesday. It’s his first stay in the country since he took office in June.
The Philippine president is expected to attend a dinner hosted by Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on Tuesday evening.
Abe and Duterte will be meeting for the second time following their first talks in Laos in September.
The Japanese prime minister hopes to exchange views with him on the issue of China’s moves to build bases in the South China Sea.
Abe is hoping their discussions lead toward a stronger strategic partnership in the security sector, and respect for the rule of law.
The meeting comes after Duterte made controversial remarks that his country would separate from the United States.
Abe is expected to stress that US presence is indispensable for peace and security in the Asia Pacific region.
Source and image: NHK
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