Marcos in Japan for World Expo

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos left for Japan yesterday to attend the World Expo and to meet with business groups and members of the Filipino community, Malacañang said.

His working visit to Osaka is his 34th overseas trip since becoming president in 2022.

“The President will go there to promote the pavilion of the Philippines at the World Expo in Osaka because it features our rich culture and beautiful landscape. This is part of the efforts to boost tourism in the country,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a press briefing Thursday.

“Aside from this, the President will have business meetings and will spend time with our countrymen in that country,” she added.

Malacañang has yet to provide a detailed itinerary of the President’s trip.

In a recent interview, Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the President would be meeting with South Korean firms during his visit to Osaka. According to Roque, First Lady Liza Marcos will also appear at an event featuring designers Kenneth Cobonpue and Carlo Calma. The trade department would also ask semiconductor and shipping firms to invest in the Philippines, Roque added.
 Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III and Education Secretary Sonny Angara will serve as caretakers while Marcos is in Osaka. The President is expected to return to the Philippines this weekend.
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru invited Marcos to attend the World Expo during his official visit to the Philippines last April.

The expo, which started last April 13 and will end on Oct. 13, seeks to bring together people and innovations from around the world “to address issues facing humankind on a global scale.”

This year’s expo also aims to contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals and Japan’s national strategy Society 5.0.