December 5, 2002, The Philippine Star, President ends state visit to Japan, departs for Philippines,

December 5, 2002, The Philippine Star, President ends state visit to Japan, departs for Philippines,

Tokyo: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (GMA) brought to a close Thursday [5 December] a very successful four-day state visit to Japan.

The president, First Gentleman Atty. Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo and the rest of the official Philippine delegation boarded the presidential plane at the Narita International Airport shortly before 3 this afternoon (2 p.m. in Manila).

Before she left the Akasaka Palace, where she stayed during the four-day visit, the Imperial Couple, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, made a farewell call on her.

President Arroyo's state visit is marked by the reinvigoration of the ties formed 40 years ago between the President and the Imperial Couple. It is also marked by the high esteem accorded by the Japanese government as the president spoke before House of Councillors, the National Diet of Japan, which is the Japanese parliament.