(In photo, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, and DFA Secretary Enrique A. Manalo, met at the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Ministerial Meeting in San Francisco, USA. Photo from Embassy of Japan in the Philippines)
By Alithea De Jesus
After the fruitful two days State Visit of Japan Prime Minister Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, on November 15, Japan and Philippines continue the cooperation with a meeting between Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan and Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo met on November 15, commencing at 2:00 p.m. local time (on 16 November, 7：00 a.m. Japan time), in the United States to attend APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Ministerial Meeting.
During the course of their meeting, both Ministers discussed and agreed on the following agenda:
At the outset, Minister Kamikawa appreciated the warm hospitality by the Philippines side during Prime Minister Kishida’s visit in early November and stated that it was very meaningful that the two leaders had confirmed their close coordination in order to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law and to ensure human dignity. In response, Secretary Manalo welcomed the success of Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to the Philippines and stated that he would like to further enhance Japan-Philippine relations based on the outcomes of the visit.
The two Ministers concurred to steadily promote the bilateral cooperation in areas such as security including Official Security Assistance (OSA), transfer of defense equipment and technology, maritime security capacity building including the provision of patrol vessels, and the commencement of negotiation of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) as well as the materialization of Japan-U.S.-Philippine cooperation.
The two Ministers exchanged views on regional and global issues of common concern for the two countries and confirmed that they would work closely on issues such as the situation in the East and South China Seas, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and Women Peace Security (WPS). In addition, Minister Kamikawa reiterated Japan’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian situation, referring to the united message delivered by the G7 Foreign Ministers at the recent G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the two ministers concurred to continue to maintain close communication.
The two Ministers concurred to continue to work closely toward the success of the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship in December.
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