PBBM, Takaichi tackle bilateral, ASEAN agenda

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a telephone conversation Tuesday ahead of the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits in November, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.

The phone call reaffirms their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and advancing regional cooperation.

The two leaders discussed preparations for the upcoming summits, which will bring together ASEAN leaders and dialogue partners, to address key regional and international issues.

President Marcos and Prime Minister Takaichi also discussed the 4th Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders’ Meeting, which the Philippines and Japan are scheduled to co-chair in November.

AZEC is a Japan-led initiative aimed at promoting clean energy, reducing carbon emissions, and supporting sustainable economic growth while strengthening energy security across the region. During the AZEC Plus One Online Summit on April 15, 2026 attended by both leaders, Japan announced its US$10-billion Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience (POWERR Asia) initiative to support energy security and resilience across the region.

President Marcos and Prime Minister Takaichi last held a bilateral meeting on May 28 during the former’s State Visit to Japan, when the two countries elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

During the phone call today, the two leaders also discussed various areas of cooperation, such as on the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), defense and security, and Japan’s long-standing support to peace consolidation efforts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The President and the Prime Minister likewise exchanged views on Artificial Intelligence (AI) cooperation and regional developments.