President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. received former Japanese Prime Minister and current Supreme Adviser to the Parliamentary Association of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), Kishida Fumio, at Malacañan Palace on Thursday. The high-level courtesy call centered on deepening bilateral cooperation to accelerate the transition to renewable energy and securing regional power grids amid global geopolitical instability.
During the meeting, President Marcos underscored the critical timing of the visit, noting that the ongoing tensions in the Middle East have placed immense pressure on the global energy system. He emphasized that the current climate makes the AZEC initiative more vital than ever.
“I understand that you are here to promote AZEC, a very important initiative… It has become especially pressing and critical with all of the events that are transpiring in the Middle East and the effects that it has had on the entire energy system of the world,” President Marcos stated.
The President highlighted that these global disruptions serve as a catalyst for the Philippines to shift away from fossil fuels and integrate more renewable technologies into the national grid.
Special Envoy Kishida, visiting the Philippines from April 30 to May 2, reaffirmed Japan’s dedication to the AZEC framework—a regional decarbonization strategy he originally proposed in 2022. He expressed gratitude for the Philippines’ active participation in the AZEC Plus Online Summit held last month and expressed a desire to fortify economic ties.
Key highlights of the cooperation:
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POWERR Asia: Discussion of Japan’s $10 billion energy cooperation framework (Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience), designed to support fuel procurement and supply chain stability.
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Contractual Stability: President Marcos expressed appreciation for Japan’s commitment to honoring and maintaining existing fuel supply contracts.
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Future Leadership: Kishida conveyed the intention of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to collaborate closely with the Philippines as it prepares to host the 4th AZEC Leaders’ Meeting in November.
Beyond energy, President Marcos voiced concerns regarding the safety of the 2.5 million overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East, expressing hope for a de-escalation of regional conflicts.
The meeting was attended by key members of the Philippine Cabinet, including Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and the Secretaries of Finance, Energy, and Trade and Industry. The Japanese delegation included members of the House of Representatives and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
The visit signals a robust continuation of the “strategic partnership” between Manila and Tokyo, ensuring that both nations remain leaders in the Asian transition toward a net-zero future.
