Japan PM to discuss terrorism, drug rehab in visit to PH

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. AP FILE PHOTO

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be in the Philippines from Jan. 12 to 13 as the first head of state to visit President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017.

READ: Japan’s PM Abe visits PH

The two leaders are expected to discuss “counter terrorism cooperation, drug rehabilitation projects, infrastructure development, maritime cooperation, and development projects,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

Abe’s official visit, with his wife Akie Abe, will be from Jan. 12 to 13. He will also be the “highest ranking official to ever visit Davao,” according to DFA.

There is a large Japanese community in Davao, where Duterte previously received Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida.

Last year, the Philippines and Japan commemorated 60 years of normalization of diplomatic relations after World War II.

“Japan remains one of the Philippines’ most steadfast economic partners, and people-to-people relations with Japan are among the most dynamic,” DFA said. CBB