NEW YORK, USA — Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has expressed his country's support for the Philippines' economic development and aspiration to attain upper-middle-income status in the near future.
This development came after Kishida and President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. met on the sidelines of the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly here in New York on Wednesday, September 21.
In a statement, Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said the two leaders were confident that the bilateral cooperation between the two countries would further realize the two countries’ common aspiration for regional peace and stability and a better life for their peoples.
While not discussing the details, the Palace official said Kishida backed the Philippines' quest to become an upper-middle-income country.
"PM Kishida reiterated Japan’s commitment to supporting the Philippines’ economic development to become an upper middle-income country," she said.
In his speech at the UNGA 77 High-Level General Debate, President Marcos expressed confidence that the Philippines will be an upper-middle-income country by next year and a "moderately prosperous" one in 2040.
Aside from this, Angeles said the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to reinforce ties and strengthen cooperation in response to the challenges and opportunities in the regional security and economic landscape.
The Strategic Partnership between the Philippines and Japan, spanning 11 years now, witnessed tremendous growth and deepened cooperation in addressing their security and defense priorities. These include maritime security, maritime domain awareness, maritime law enforcement capacities, and peace in Mindanao.
During their meeting, President Marcos noted that the Philippines and Japan “have fostered one of the closest partnerships in the region" 66 years since the normalization of bilateral ties.
He likewise shared his administration’s priorities, particularly in agriculture and food security, energy security, infrastructure development, and cybersecurity.
Marcos and Kishida also exchanged views on bilateral, regional, and international concerns.