Manila: Respective heads of governments of the Philippines and Japan on Saturday have committed to further strengthen ties to face common security challenges facing the region.
At a morning meeting at the presidential palace in Manila, President Benigno Aquino III and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to further strengthen relations between the Philippines and Japan not only to improve economic engagements but also maritime and security ties.
“We reviewed the security challenges that confront our nations, and pledged to cooperate in advancing our common advocacy for responsible action from international players. “We believe that it can be done by upholding the rule of law in international affairs, and by finding just and peaceful solutions to our territorial disputes and maritime concerns—so that we may create a secure and stable environment that leads to our collective progress,” Aquino said during a joint press conference with Abe.
The Philippines and Japan are both confronted by the increasing boldness of China, in similarly asserting its claim over several islands close in the South China Sea.
The Philippines had earlier said that it will abide to a peaceful resolution in the territorial dispute had already sought the help of the United Nations which formed a an arbitral tribunal in response. China has yet to make a similar move.
Aquino also took the opportunity to express gratitude to Japan for donating several patrol vessels for the Philippine Coast Guard.
“We thank the Japanese Government for helping enhance the capacity of the Philippine Coast Guard by building multi-role response vessels and by providing communication systems for their use,” he said.
Earlier the two leaders presided over the signing of the expanded bilateral agreement wherein they vowed to actively pursue strategies for growth and positive engagement.
Japan is also a key player in the peace efforts in Mindanao, providing development assistance to areas that suffered from the conflict between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
Aside from a provider of official development assistance, Japan, in 2012, was the top trade partner of the Philippines as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals.
“In 2012, our total bilateral trade amounted to $16.35 billion [Dh60 billion]. Japan remains our largest source of development assistance, and our country’s second largest source of approved investments, which in the previous year amounted to more than P69 billion [Dh5.8 billion]. Japan is also our third largest source of tourists, as 412,474 Japanese nationals visited our shores last year,” Aquino said.
After he leaves the Philippines on Saturday, Abe’s visit to Southeast Asia will take him to Malaysia and Singapore.
