State visit or official visit: What's the difference?

MANILA, Philippines — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is in the Philippines for a two-day official visit — the first stop in his four-nation trip to boost trade and security ties amid China's rise to dominance in Asia.

Japan is the first to return the gesture among the countries President Rodrigo Duterte visited last year.

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The Philippines' top diplomat Perfecto Yasay said that Abe's visit reciprocates Duterte's successful state visit to Japan last October.

The Japanese prime minister's official visit, however, is different from Duterte's state visit to Tokyo last year.

In an explanation on the Official Gazette, the state journal detailed the distinction between a state visit, official visit and working visit.

State visit

A state visit reflects the highest level of hospitality, honor and formality in relations between nations.

Invitation

• A foreign head of state visits upon an invitation of the host head of state

Arrival ceremonies

• Playing of the national anthems of the two nations

• Review of the honor guards

• Rendering of full military honors (including a 21-gun salute for the head of state) 

• The leaders proceed to enter the State Entrance of Malacañan Palace after. They climb the grand staircase and the visiting leader signs the Official Guest Book in the Ceremonial Hall.

• A bilateral meeting is held followed by a joint press conference

Size of delegation

• The visiting official can have eight to 10 personnel as part of the official delegation.

State luncheon or dinner

• A state dinner is held either at the Aguinaldo State Dining Room or the Rizal Ceremonial Hall

• Usually, a reception is held in the Reception Hall of Malacañan Palace where the two leaders greet guests in a reception line

• There is an exchange of toasts

• There can also be a cultural presentation at the end

Expenses

• The host country shoulders the costs for the visit 

• The use of a State Guest House is often extended to the visiting head of state

Formalities

• A state visit often includes the conferment of decorations and exchange of symbolic gifts

• It can also include an address by the visiting head of state to the legislature of the host country as well as visits to various national memorials and the inclusion of cultural activities

• Laying a wreath at the tomb and monument of Jose Rizal upon arrival in Manila

• Rendering of arrival and other honors at Malacañan Palace

It is a tradition in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for a new regional leader to make the first state visit to a fellow ASEAN member nation. Duterte's first trip abroad as Philippine president was for an ASEAN meet in Laos in September last year.

His first state visit was supposed to be to Brunei before he headed for ASEAN summit in Laos. However, Duterte canceled the trip after the Davao City blast last September 2 that left 15 people dead and dozens injured.

Official visit

Invitation

• A high-ranking official from Cabinet level to head of government is invited to visit another country by its government

Size of delegation

• The visiting official can have up to six personnel as part of the official delegation.

State luncheon or dinner

• No luncheon or dinner is required

Expenses

• The host country shoulders the costs for the visit 

Formalities

• If the visitor is the head of government, honors are given

Working visit

In a working visit, an official meets with a counterpart to discuss issues concerning both countries.

Invitation

• No invitation is necessary for this level of visit

Expenses

• The host country does not shoulder the costs for the visit

Among Philippine chief executives from 1935 up to present, then President Fidel Ramos had the most number of both state and official visits with 24 and 33, respectively. He is followed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo with 23 state visits and 31 official visits. The United States was the most frequented country by both presidents with seven visits for Ramos and 18 for Arroyo.