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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Japan envoy hopes for PH economy's 'top-class growth'

Japan envoy hopes for PH economy's 'top-class growth'

Published Feb 23, 2023 11:19 am

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Koshikawa Kazuhiko is hopeful that the Philippine economy "will show top-class growth" among its Asian neighbors and will "attract more Japanese investors in the coming years."

Kazuhiko's expectations were based on the basic policies that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. "clearly laid out" for the Philippine-Japan relations.

"Our bilateral ties are poised to reach even greater heights, especially in the areas of economics, defense and people-to-people exchanges," the diplomat said before a gathering of Filipino and foreign government officials as well as businessmen who gathered to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito in Taguig City on Monday night.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko pose for a photo opportunity on the 63rd birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Naruhito, in Taguig City on February 22, 2023. (Juan Carlo de Vela)

In fact, since 2019, Kazuhiko said both countries have made "significant strides in our economic cooperation." Currently, Japan is also the largest donor of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the Philippines."Our firm resolve to strengthen our economic ties translates to various ODA-funded projects spanning multiple sectors," he said.

But it is not only on the economy that Japan focuses on. Tokyo is also supportive of the country in other "critical and emerging" areas, such as smart and sustainable agriculture, disaster prevention, health, human resource development and space technology development.

In the field of defense, Japan stands with the Philippines in maintaining a stable regional order to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific founded on universal values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law.

"Today, there is close cooperation between the Japan Self-Defense Force and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as the Japan Coast Guard and the Philippine Coast Guard in order to protect our global commons and shared security interests," he said.

Kazuhiko also hoped that the people-to-people exchange between the two countries will recover as the world emerges from the pandemic.

"It is my hope that this will not only bolster our ties, but also bear fruit on the Philippine economy," he said.

Related Tags

Bongbong Marcos economy Koshikawa Kazuhiko Philippines Japan
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