Courtesy call on Senate President Escudero by Foreign Minister Kamikawa and Exchange of Views with officials on Women, Peace and Security (WPS)

Courtesy Call on Senate President Francis Escudero

On July 9, during her visit to the Republic of the Philippines, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa paid a courtesy call on Senate President Escudero and exchanged views with WPS officials,

Courtesy Call with Senate President Escudero

On July 9 at 11:00 a.m. local time (12:00 Japan time), Foreign Minister Kamikawa paid a courtesy call on Hon. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, President of the Senate of the Philippines, for about 30 minutes.

(1) At the beginning of the meeting, Senate President Escudero welcomed Minister Kamikawa’s visit to the Philippines and expressed his desire to further strengthen friendly relations with Japan. In response, Minister Kamikawa congratulated Hon. Escudero on assuming the Senate presidency and stated that the series of meetings held during her visit allowed her to confirm the strengthening of cooperation toward the maintenance and reinforcement of a free and open rules-based international order. Furthermore, looking ahead to the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines in 2026, Foreign Minister Kamikawa expressed her desire to further deepen bilateral relations in a wide range of fields with the cooperation of Senate President Escudero.

(2) Minister Kamikawa expressed her desire to further strengthen security and maritime cooperation, including through the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), cooperation in the field of economic security, cooperation in the economic sector through infrastructure development, and human and cultural exchange. In response, Senate President Escudero said that he would make every effort to ensure steady progress in a wide range of bilateral cooperation areas, including the early ratification of the RAA by the Senate.

(3) The two parties also exchanged views on various issues in the local and international communities and confirmed their continued collaboration.

Courtesy Call on Senate President Francis Escudero

Discussion with WPS Officials

On July 9 at noon local time (1:00 p.m. Japan time), for approximately 85 minutes, Minister Kamikawa met with Secretary Carlito G. Galvez Jr, Presidential Advisor on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity; Minister Raissa Jajurie, Minister for Social Services and Development, Bangsamoro Transition Authority; and Professor Miriam Coronel Ferrer, University of the Philippines, to exchange views on Mindanao peace process and WPS.

(1) Firstly, Minister Kamikawa stated that peace in Mindanao is directly related to the stability of the Philippines and is also important for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, she wishes to continue supporting socio-economic development from the perspective of WPS toward the establishment of an autonomous Bangsamoro government next year. Minister Kamikawa also stated that she has been working on the promotion of gender equality for many years and that she is promoting WPS as part of her major foreign policy initiatives.

(2) Advisor Galvez, Minister Jajurie, and Professor Ferrer explained the efforts related to WPS in Mindanao, gender policy in the Philippines, and the current status of women’s participation in politics.