JAPANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be making stops in Manila and Davao City when he visits the Philippines on Jan. 12 to 13, presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said on Tuesday.
Abe, who first met President Rodrigo Duterte at the Asean Summit in Laos in September, had requested to visit Duterte’s home, Abella said.
“They struck a resonant chord and apparently, Prime Minister Abe wants to visit the President’s house,” he said.
Abe will arrive at noon on Thursday and will be received by Duterte in Malacañang.
A state dinner will be held for him on Friday.
Abella said Abe will also be meeting with business groups in Manila and in Davao City, where he will visit Duterte’s house in Matina and the Japanese Cemetery.
Japan has been active in helping the Mindanao peace process and is the Philippines’ biggest source of Official Development Assistance.
Japan is also supporting the Philippines’ anti-drug campaign and is interested in extending assistance to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the fight against illegal drugs.
Abe will be the first head of state to accept Duterte’s invitation to visit the Philippines.
Duterte has also invited Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.