Recalling numerous cooperative endeavors in the past, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said this "heart-to-heart" relationship that Japan has with the Philippines is something that should prosper and be passed on to the next generation. 

Kishida cited this from the so-called Fukuda Doctrine by the late Japanese Prime Minister Takeo Fukuda based on his 1977 speech that zeroed in on harmony among ASEAN nations. 

Kishida graced a special joint session of the House of Representatives and the Senate at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City on Saturday, Nov. 4.

"I believe that it is the responsibility of those living in the present, to take the 'heart-to-heart ties' established by our predecessors to new heights and pass them on to the next generation," he said in his speech.
 

Kisihda says Japan and the Philippines has made great strides over the past half-century, believing that the people-to-people connection is the bedrock of the two countries' relationship. 

He also shared that he offered flowers at the monument to Dr. José Rizal who had once stayed in Japan in his youth and had the opportunity to interact with Japanese people, and even envisioned that the two countries would one day engage in a full-fledged relationship. 

"Indeed, exchanges between the peoples of the two countries have been unwavering," he said. 

He added that after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, the Philippines sent a medical assistance team, and Filipino caregiver candidates remained in the affected areas to provide dedicated care. "We cannot abandon the elderly people," he quoted them as saying.
 

In return, Kishida said that when Typhoon Yolanda struck in 2013, Japanese residents from the disaster-stricken area of Tohoku went to the Philippines to assist in the recovery and reconstruction efforts.

With the slogan for the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation being "Golden Friendship, Golden Opportunities", Kishida hopes to work with President Marcos and other ASEAN leaders to ensure that the "golden friendship" between Japan and ASEAN will be a "golden opportunity" that leads to the next generation. 

There will be an ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit Meeting in December.

Addressing global concerns

Kishida detailed how Japan and the Philippines have also deepened coordination in addressing global issues. He mentioned that as a native of Hiroshima, who worked on nuclear disarmament his entire life. 

He said he will continue to promote realistic and practical efforts toward a "world without nuclear weapons". 

He said that Japan co-hosted last September the Commemorative High-Level Event on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT). Present at the event was Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo. 

Regarding climate change, he says that the Philippines and Japan are deepening cooperation on energy transition by realizing the "Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC)" concept. 

In December, he said that they will hold the AZEC Summit meeting and will work with participating countries to pursue the common goal of "Net Zero" via various pathways for energy transitions based on each country's circumstance. 

Lastly, he also highlighted the cooperation among Japan, the Philippines, and the United States (US). 

"In order to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law, multilayered cooperation among allies and like-minded countries is crucial. In September, President Marcos, US Vice President Harris, and I exchanged views for the first time and confirmed to enhance cooperation," he said. 

In the South China Sea, Kishida stated that the trilateral cooperation to protect the freedom of the sea was underway. 

In addition to the participation of Japan's Self-Defense Forces in the joint US-Philippines exercises held last month, the first joint exercise by the coast guard agencies of the three countries was held in June this year.  

"Through these efforts, let us protect the maritime order, which is governed by laws and rules, not by force," he said.  

Kishida vowed that he would continue to do his utmost to ensure that the strong friendship between Japan and the Philippines will last and further develop in the future.