Magandang umaga, my Filipino pals. It’s my nice pleasure to go to the Philippines as Minister for Overseas Affairs of Japan.
Japan and the Philippines have an extended historical past of change courting again to the sixteenth century. Particularly over the previous few years, the Japan-Philippines relations have made exceptional progress in a variety of areas, together with safety, economic system and cultural and people-to-people exchanges. November in 2023, Prime Minister Kishida visited Manila and addressed on the Philippine Congress for the primary time because the Prime Minister of Japan. He expressed his dedication to raise the “Coronary heart-to-heart ties” established by our predecessors to new heights and go them on to the subsequent era. The nice and cozy applause from the viewers who crammed the corridor exhibits the depth of the ties between our two nations. I hope that my go to to the Philippines additional develop our bilateral relationship on these foundations.
This would be the second Japan-Philippines Overseas and Protection Ministerial Assembly (“2+2”), following the one in 2022. Japan and the Philippines are neighbors linked by the ocean. Because the world faces a historic turning level, cooperation between our two strategic companions, that are each maritime nations sharing basic values and ideas, is crucial to keep up and strengthen the free and open worldwide order primarily based on the rule of legislation. Lately, the cooperation has made regular progress, together with efforts towards the conclusion of the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Entry Settlement and the supply of warning and management radars, coastal surveillance radars, and enormous patrol vessels. It is extremely well timed to evaluate such progress and ensure future efforts at this “2+2” assembly. I stay up for fruitful discussions with Overseas Secretary Manalo and Protection Secretary Teodoro.
Financial cooperation has additionally regular progress. Japan is the Philippines’ largest donor and has supported financial and social improvement in quite a lot of areas, from the event of transportation infrastructure, such because the Metro Manila Subway Undertaking and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 3 Rehabilitation Undertaking, to catastrophe administration and the Mindanao peace course of. We’ll proceed to help Philippines’ entry into the higher middle-income nations standing by way of these efforts. With greater than 1,400 Japanese firms working within the Philippines, Japan is a significant buying and selling accomplice for the Philippines. The Philippines additionally performs an necessary position in provide chains resilience for Japan. We’ll strengthen our partnership as companions for mutual development by using one another’s strengths.
Cultural and people-to-people exchanges are additionally fairly energetic, with the variety of Filipinos visiting Japan reaching about 620,000 in 2023, greater than earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic. As well as, Filipino nurses and caregivers working below the Japan-Philippines EPA and human assets with particular expertise help Japan’s economic system. Athletes with roots in each nations are energetic in golf and baseball, and Japanese anime and manga are well-liked within the Philippines. These areas are the inspiration of our relationships, and I’ll deepen our discussions on strengthening cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Within the space of Girls, Peace and Safety (WPS), which is my life’s work, I’ll additional deepen our cooperation. The WPS goals for a extra sustainable peace by committing to “safety” of susceptible teams resembling ladies in instances of disaster, whereas “participation” of ladies themselves in “prevention” and “humanitarian and reconstruction help” in management positions. The Philippines has been energetic in ladies’s empowerment, as symbolized by the success of its feminine legislators, and has made superior efforts within the area of WPS, together with the formulation of a nationwide motion plan forward of different Southeast Asian nations. We wish to take this chance to study from the Philippines’ efforts and additional reinforce our coordination.
From the angle of bringing peace, stability, and financial prosperity to the Philippines and different areas, the connection with the US, with which each Japan and the Philippines are allies, can also be necessary. In April, the primary Japan-U.S.-Philippines Summit was held within the U.S. The leaders mentioned concrete instructions for future cooperation, primarily within the financial area, and achieved outcomes, such because the launch of the “Luzon Financial Hall” to strengthen regional connectivity. Discussions are already underway to convey these cooperation efforts to fruition. Throughout this go to, we intend to reaffirm the regular progress of cooperation.
The yr 2026 will mark the seventieth anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines. As Overseas Minister of Japan, I’m decided to additional deepen our relationships in a variety of fields, whereas conserving this main milestone in thoughts.
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