Japanese PM to visit Manila this week

MANILA, Philippines - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will make an official visit to Manila from July 26 to 27, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday.

Abe will meet with President Aquino to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional issues, and advance the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan.

In December 2006, Abe visited Manila during his first term as prime minister.

In May, Abe manifested the Japanese government’s support for the Philippines’ initiation of arbitral proceedings to clarify maritime zones and entitlements in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

Japan also pledged its continued support towards the Philippines’ capability building in maritime security.

Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines.

In 2012, Japan was the Philippines’ number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance, as well as the second major source of approved investments and the third source of tourist arrivals.

The further strengthening of the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan based on shared values took center stage at Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario’s courtesy call on Abe at the Kantei (Prime Minister’s Office) in Tokyo.

Abe and Del Rosario discussed the regional situation and the particular maritime security challenges that the Philippines and Japan confront.

Del Rosario expressed the Philippines’ appreciation for Japan’s stance, stressing the crucial role of international law in attaining a durable resolution to international disputes based on a level playing field.

Del Rosario also briefed Abe on the Philippines’ parallel pursuit of diplomatic and political avenues in order to address maritime concerns.

Agrarian reform aid

Japan has funded a P4.4 billion comprehensive package of support services project for around 70,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries in 216 barangays in Mindanao.

The Mindanao Sustainable Agrarian and Agriculture Development (MINSAAD) funded under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aims to improve the living conditions of more than 400,000 residents in 12 settlement areas in Central, Northern and Southern Mindanao.

MINSAAD director Nasser Musali said the project is designed to increase agricultural productivity, product value and income of agrarian reform beneficiaries and other small-scale farmers through provision of agricultural infrastructure and other capacity-building support. – With Rhodina Villanueva