1. On February 22 (Friday), the second Japan-Philippines Dialogue on Maritime and Oceanic Affairs was held in Manila, at the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines. From the Japanese side, the representatives from Ministry of Foreign Affairs including Mr. Kenji Kanasugi, Deputy Director-General, Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, the Secretariat of the Headquarters for Ocean Policy of the Cabinet Secretariat, the Ministry of Defense, and the Coast Guard attended the dialogue. From the Philippine side, the representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs including Mr. Gilberto G.B. Asuque, Assistant Secretary, Office of the Undersecretary for Special and Ocean Concerns, and Atty. Henry Bensurto, Special Assistant, Office of the Undersecretary for Policy, and the Department of National Defense, the Philippine Coast Guard, Maritime Industry Authority, Maritime Mapping and Resource Information Authority, and the Department of Agriculture attended the dialogue.
2. Japan and the Philippines, as two maritime countries sharing sea lane, have been promoting bilateral cooperation in the maritime field. When Mr. Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs visited the Philippines last January, both foreign ministers shared the view to strengthen such cooperation in this area. This dialogue, partly as a follow-up of the foreign ministers' meeting, was held following the first dialogue held in Tokyo on September 9, 2011. Both sides exchanged views on how to promote the bilateral cooperation in the maritime field, and shared the recognition on the maritime issues in the region and the international society such as anti piracy measures.
3. Regarding the bilateral cooperation in the maritime field, both sides reviewed the past cooperation in the maritime security and safety. In addition, the Japanese side expressed its intention to continue to support the capacity building of the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Philippine side welcomed it. Moreover, both sides shared the recognition that they will further strengthen the cooperation between the defense authorities.
4. Concerning the maritime issues in the region and the international society, both sides shared the recognition that the issues in the South China Sea is a matter of interests for the whole international community being directly related to regional peace and stability, and that the issue should be settled peacefully in accordance with the relevant international laws such as the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In addition, regarding the issues of piracy and armed robbery in Asian and Somalia, it was confirmed that the two countries will further strengthen the efforts against such issues through the utilization of the ReCAAP and other frameworks and the assistance for enhancing the maritime law enforcement capabilities of the countries near the piracy prone area.
5. Both sides decided to hold the next dialogue sometime in 2014 in Tokyo and date and venue will be decided through diplomatic channels.
Japanese Version
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