Your Excellency Alberto G. Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs,
Your Excellency Bader Nasser Al-Houti, Ambassador of Kuwait,
representing the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me first of all extend my heartfelt thanks to you all for joining us tonight to celebrate the 76 th birthday of His Majesty The Emperor of Japan, and the 20 th Anniversary of His Majesty's accession to the Throne.
Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan visited the Philippines in 1962 as Crown Prince and Crown Princess, invited by the then President Macapagal, the father of Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Especially after that historical visit, the bilateral relations between the two countries have been getting closer year by year, and Japan has become one of the major partners of the Philippines in trade and investment, as well as the largest donor of the ODA to the Philippines.
On trade and investment, the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement, or JPEPA entered into force just a year ago, and started offering wide-ranging benefits to the peoples of both countries.
For example, the export of bananas to Japan has increased by 24% compared with that of last year, after the tariffs were reduced in accordance with the JPEPA. The JPEPA has also made it possible for more than 300 Filipino candidates for nurses and caregivers to go to Japan this year.
In June this year, Her Excellency President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited Japan for the seventh time as the President and agreed at the Summit meeting to ‘foster a strategic partnership for the future. This demonstrates both sides' recognition of each other as strategically important partner for the future. I will spare no efforts to further expand and strengthen the bilateral relations towards that end.
As for the peace-building efforts in Mindanao, needless to say, we have no intention whatsoever to interfere in the Philippines' domestic affairs, but upon request, we will continue to assist the Philippines' efforts for peace-building as its strategic partner. The Government of Japan has been providing an extensive assistance in the conflict affected areas for construction of schools, vocational centers, water supply systems etc. to make the local people feel “peace dividends” or feel that peace is better than fighting each other.
There has been a Japanese development expert deployed in Cotabato as member of the International Monitoring Team for the last three years, and last year we added another expert, before the IMT was temporarily suspended.
We suppose that it was in consideration of these contributions on our part that the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, the MILF and the Government of Malaysia as facilitator requested Japan to participate in the ICG, or International Contact Group, which is expected to give advice to the parties concerned and to participate in peace talks as observers.
Just today, the official peace talks have been resumed in KL, with Japan as a member of ICG. We wholeheartedly welcome this resumption of talks and highly value the efforts made by both negotiating parties and the facilitator. We strongly expect that the parties concerned will continue sincere discussions making use of peace process frameworks and reach the final agreement for peace in Mindanao at an early date.
Last but not the least, we would like to express our strong hope that in the Maguindanao Province justice will be done in relation to the massacre and normalcy will return as quickly as possible.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
With a fresh determination to continue assisting the Philippines' nation building efforts, including our support for the Philippines' reconstruction efforts from damages caused by the recent typhoons, I should like to propose a toast for the good health of Her Excellency The President of the Republic of the Philippines, and of all of you, as well as for the continued cooperation towards strategic partnership for the future between Japan and the Philippines, and the continued friendship among the diplomatic corps.
To the President!!
Mabuhay!
Embassy of Japan in the Philippines