Your Excellency Alberto G. Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs,
Your Excellency Archbishop Edward Joseph Adams, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps,
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me first of all extend my heartfelt thanks to you for joining us tonight to celebrate the 77 th birthday of His Majesty The Emperor of Japan.
If I talk a little bit about the relations between the Imperial Family and the Philippines, their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan visited the Philippines in 1962 as Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and thereafter, all the Presidents of the Republic of the Philippines visited Japan.
In the case of the state visit of President Corazon Aquino in 1986, the delegation included her son, His Excellency President Benigno S. Aquino III. Last month, when His Excellency the President was leaving for Japan to participate in the APEC Yokohama Summit, in his speech of departure at the airport, His Excellency referred to “the wonderful friendship struck by President Corazon Aquino with Emperor SHOWA”, or Emperor Hirohito in another name. President Corazon Aquino also attended the State Funeral of Emperor SHOWA in 1989, and the Enthronement Ceremony of His Majesty the Emperor in 1990.
Through these historical visits, and through untiring efforts by both sides, the bilateral relations between the two countries have been getting closer year by year.
For example, on trade and investment, Japan continued to be the second destination of the Philippines' export in 2009. The export of tropical products to Japan has increased greatly, after the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement or JPEPA entered into force two years ago. But major part of the Philippines' export to Japan consists of electronics and other industrial products assembled by the Japanese investors which moved their factories here in the Philippines. Thus, they contribute to the Philippines' export to Japan, but also to the Philippines' export to other countries. These Foreign Direct Investments from Japan represented 58% of all the FDI the Philippines received from the world in 2009. Since these Japanese factories import the components from Japan, Japan became the first source of the Philippines' import from the entire world in 2009.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
In June last year, the two Governments agreed to foster a strategic partnership for the future, as we share fundamental values such as freedom, democracy and respect of human rights. This was reconfirmed, after the change of the Governments in both countries, at the first meeting between the new President and the new Prime Minister in Hanoi in October this year.
We continue to assist as much as possible the Philippines' nation building efforts as the largest donor of the ODA to the Philippines. We welcome the President's new initiative of Public Private Partnership, and his intention to improve investment climate.
We are ready and eager to improve the implementation of the Japan Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement in close cooperation with the Philippine Government.
We will work with the Philippine Government to attain the goal declared in the “APEC Yokohama Vision” adopted last month. We will also enhance further our cooperation with the Philippine Government in the field of climate change and environment.
We continue to assist the Philippines' peace-building efforts in Mindanao with three pillars. Firstly, we have been providing an extensive assistance in the conflict affected areas for construction of schools, vocational centers, water supply system, etc. Secondly, Japan joined the International Monitoring Team as the first non-Muslim country four years ago. This week, in response to the request of the Philippine Government, we decided to extend our tour of duty of two Japanese members of International Monitoring Team.
Thirdly, Japan is a member of the International Contact Group which is expected to give advice to the parties concerned and to participate in peace talks as observers.
While we have no intention whatsoever to interfere in the Philippines' domestic affairs, we welcome the policy of the Aquino administration to continue to seek peace with MILF through negotiation, and look forward to the formal resumption of the peace talks in the near future.
Finally, I would like to refer to one aspect of the relations between our two countries which is not well known to you all. More than two thirds of the seafarers on Japanese merchant vessels are Filipinos. They are indispensable partners for Japan's maritime transportations all over the world.
As many Filipino seafarers work not only on Japanese vessels but also on other foreign vessels, they sometimes face danger posed by piracy. Since last year, Japan has been deploying the Maritime Self-Defense Forces off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden to protect not only Japanese vessels but also non Japanese vessels from piracy, thus contributing to enhanced safety of Filipino seafarers.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you very much for your attention, and now, I should like to propose a toast for the good health of His 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 for the continued friendship among the diplomatic corps.
To the President!!
Mabuhay!
Embassy of Japan in the Philippines