Foreign affairs chief ends official visit to Japan

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario concluded on Friday his first official visit to Japan, taking several important steps forward the Philippine–Japan strategic partnership inaugurated by President Benigno Aquino III and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda in September last year.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba hosted a bilateral meeting and official dinner for Del Rosario at the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on June 28.

The two ministers engaged in comprehensive discussions reviewing key aspects of relations, and affirmed their respective Governments’ commitment to advancing the multifaceted bilateral relationship, on the basis of the two countries’ shared values and long history of cooperation.

Talks centered on the enhancement of political dialogue, economic cooperation, official development assistance, and business-to-business and people-to-people ties, as well as on the furtherance of bilateral cooperation on shared regional strategic concerns, including maritime security and disaster risk reduction.

Del Rosario also held productive meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada, Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) President Akihiko Tanaka, as well as with major Japanese business organizations, led by the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), the Japan-Philippines Economic Cooperation Committee (JPECC), and the International Friendship Exchange Council (FEC).

The two officials reviewed recent positive economic developments in both the Philippines and Japan, exchanged views on regional security concerns, and discussed the advancement of economic cooperation, including through the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (PJEPA).

Both officials also conferred regarding measures to more effectively realize the objectives of the PJEPA’s provisions on the Movement of Natural Persons, particularly Japan’s acceptance of Filipino nurses and careworkers.

Tanaka, who himself returned from a successful first visit to the Philippines in early May, called on the Secretary in Tokyo. They reviewed the progress of major ongoing Jica-assisted projects in the Philippines, including grassroots development projects in Mindanao.

Del Rosario thanked Jica for its steadfast support for the Philippines’ development priorities and for the public-private partnership scheme.

The DFA chief undertook the two-day Official Visit on the invitation of Gemba. (SDR/Sunnex)