PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr will join leaders at the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit and other activities that will occur on Dec. 18.

The chief executive will leave for Tokyo, Japan on December 15.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the countries are set to lead the 50th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN relations.

DFA Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu said that issues relating to “defense and transnational crime mutual legal assistance, mutual economic activities, socio-cultural and people to people activities” will be discussed during the meetings. 

Marcos will have a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the 16th.

The DFA has yet to divulge the content of the meeting.

Media likewise pressed in the meeting will likewise include the possible signing of the Philippines and Japan’s reciprocal access agreement (RAA) similar to visiting forces agreement (VFA) with the United States.

But Espiritu said it seems unlikely.

“As for the bilateral meeting, it might be, I cannot confirm that one if that will be part of the agenda. I think it will take a long time to make, so I don’t that it will be done in one sitting,” he said.