The leaders of the Philippines, the United States, and Japan held a virtual meeting on Monday to discuss ways to further strengthen their cooperation in key areas such as economic growth, maritime security and technological advancement.

The meeting was the second for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and US President Joe Biden, while it was the first for Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, since the trilateral summit in Washington, DC, on 11 April 2024.

The April summit was attended by then Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who was succeeded by Ishiba in October 2024.

During the latest meeting, the three leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a peaceful, secure, and prosperous Indo-Pacific guided by the core values of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights.

President Marcos expressed optimism the trilateral partnership would continue to thrive, stating, “I am confident our three countries will continue to work closely together to sustain the gains that we have made in enhancing and deepening our ties.”

Marcos emphasized the substantial progress made since the Trilateral Joint Vision Statement was adopted, noting successful collaborations in areas such as inclusive economic growth, technological innovation, climate cooperation and clean energy initiatives.

These areas are seen as crucial to the long-term stability and prosperity of the region.

Biden cites historic progress

US President Biden highlighted the “historic progress” made by the trilateral partnership since the April summit, particularly in the realms of maritime security, economic security, technology cooperation, and infrastructure investment.

Biden called for deeper cooperation in these areas, saying, “We should continue to deepen our cooperation in these areas, I believe.”

Biden also lauded Marcos’s diplomatic efforts in responding to China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea. He said the three countries shared a mutual interest in maintaining a strong partnership and institutionalizing their cooperation to ensure its long-term success.

“Simply put, our countries have an interest in continuing this partnership and institutionalizing our cooperation across our governments so that it is built to last,” Biden said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru stressed the importance of expanding trilateral cooperation in various fields. He acknowledged the progress made since the first summit but called for continued efforts to strengthen the ties further.

“Going forward, it is important to deepen trilateral cooperation in a variety of fields,” Ishiba said.

The three leaders concluded the 25-minute call by reaffirming their commitment to enhancing trilateral relations.

According to the Presidential Communications Office, the meeting was originally scheduled for Sunday but was reset due to the wildfires in Los Angeles, California.

The virtual meeting underscored the growing importance of the trilateral partnership among the Philippines, the US, and Japan, especially in addressing regional security challenges, fostering economic development, and advancing technological innovation.