Japanese PM arrives in Manila for 2-day visit

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived tonight for a two-day official visit.

Government officials led by Vice President Jejomar Binay welcomed the Japanese leader when he arrived at around 9:00 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

President Benigno Aquino III will welcome Abe in Malacanang, the presidential palace, on Saturday to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional issues, and ways to further advance the Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Japan, the government said.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Raul Hernandez said in a press conference Friday that the territorial disputes on the South China Sea will be "part and parcel of regional issues" during the meeting between the two leaders.

The was the last leg of Abe's three-Asian-nation tour. Earlier, he visited Malaysia and Singapore.

The last time that Abe visited the Philippines was in December 2006 in his first term as the head of the Japanese government.