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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Speaker Romualdez, Japan envoy vow to strengthen bilateral ties

Speaker Romualdez, Japan envoy vow to strengthen bilateral ties

Published Aug 9, 2022 05:11 pm

House Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday, Aug. 9, vowed to strengthen the economic environment in the Philippines to make the country a viable and attractive investment destination for Japan.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez (right) and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko (left) (Photo from Romualdez’s office)

The Leyte first district lawmaker affirmed the strong strategic ties with Japan and assured Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko and his team that the Philippines will continue its strategic economic partnership with Japan.

“It’s really great that Japan remains and has been one of the country’s foremost trade, investment and development partner for a very long time. Through strategic policy reforms, we will improve the business climate in the Philippines to attract more direct investments from Japan,” Romualdez said in a statement.

Kazuhiko paid a courtesy call on Romualdez at the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon.

They were joined by Kuronuma Kenji, Senior Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); Akihiko Hitomi, First Secretary; and Yukari Koike, Political Officer, during the courtesy call.

The two officials discussed the long-standing bilateral and inter-parliamentary relations between the Philippines and Japan and vowed to further strengthen ties and expand the two countries areas of cooperation.

Japan is the second-largest trading partner of the Philippines in 2021, with a total trade of $21.83 billion, up by 17.1 percent from the 2020 figure of $18.65 billion.

Exports and imports amounted to $10.73 billion and $18.65 billion, respectively.

Exports increased by seven percent, while imports went up by 28.9 percent in 2021 compared to 2020 levels.

Meanwhile, Romualdez also thanked the Japanese government for the "immediate response in providing humanitarian assistance” to the Philippines in the aftermath of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Northern Luzon on July 27.

“We deeply appreciate the aid provided and acknowledge the strong cooperation with Japan on humanitarian assistance and disaster response,” he said.

The Speaker also took the opportunity to extend his “sincerest condolences” on the passing of former Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Abe passed away on July 8 after he was attacked during a political event. He was 67.

Earlier, the House of representatives adopted House Resolution (HR) No. 121, principally introduced by Romualdez, House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose "Mannix" Dalipe and House Minority Leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, and senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos.

The resolution extended the country’s “deepest condolences” to former Prime Minister Abe’s wife, Akie Abe, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the Japanese people.

Related Tags

19th Congress economic partnership Koshikawa Kazuhiko Martin Romualdez Japan bilateral relations
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