Senate convenes in special session for Japan PM Kishida’s official visit

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate on Saturday convened in a special session to discuss and pass resolutions in relation to Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s official visit to the Philippines.

At 9 a.m., the upper chamber opened its session with senators scheduled to pass the following resolutions:

• Resolution informing the House of Representatives that a quorum is present in the Senate to exercise its function for the first special session of the 2nd Regular Session of the 19th Congress in the Philippines
• Resolution inviting Japan Prime Minister Kishida to address the Congress
• Resolution providing for the Senate and House of Representatives to hold a special session to receive and hear the message of Japan Prime Minister Kishida

The senators will later join their counterparts in the House of Representatives for a special joint session slated at 11 a.m.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri earlier said that Kishida’s two-day visit to the country could bolster the cooperation between the Philippines and Japan in “confronting common challenges.”

Kishida arrived in the Philippines on Friday.

Apart from addressing the Congress, the Japanese Prime Minister is expected to discuss with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. the situation in the West Philippine Sea and the two nations’ defense pact, among others.

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