Philippines, Japan agree to enhance maritime co-op

MANILA - Philippine and Japanese foreign ministers agreed Thursday to enhance maritime security cooperation.

Speaking after a bilateral meeting, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said he and his Philippine counterpart Albert del Rosario agreed on "strengthening policy dialogue, enhancing maritime cooperation and other measures."

"As the strategic environment in the region is changing, it is necessary for us as Foreign Ministers to share recognition of the situation, enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries, and cooperate towards shaping peaceful and prosperous Asia-Pacific region," he said.

Del Rosario welcomed Kishida's official visit to Manila, noting this "reaffirms the strategic partnership" between the two countries.

He said the Japanese government will continue to help the Philippines strengthen capacity of its Coast Guard through human resource development and providing communications equipment for maritime safety including the possible purchase of multi-role vessels.

The two sides discussed other issues such as trade, investment, tourism, development assistance, people-to-people exchanges and the Mindanao peace process.

Japan is the Philippines' biggest trading partner, with bilateral trade amounting to over $13 billion?in 2012. Japan is the Philippines' top export market, a leading source of investment and the third biggest source of tourism revenues.

Kishida said the Japanese government has agreed to extend loans to vital Philippine infrastructure projects: the construction of a new airport terminal in the central Philippine province of Bohol; and the extension of the light rail transit system in Metro Manila.

Japan and the Philippines will continue to explore both short- term and long-term solutions to help Filipino healthcare workers to be accepted by Japanese healthcare institutions, del Rosario said. This will be coursed through the existing Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.

"The Philippines wishes to maximize the opportunity to improve the Agreement and mutually reap its economic benefits," del Rosario said.

He also thanked the Japanese government for extending cash and relief goods to the victims of typhoon Bopha in southern Philippines, which left over 1,000 people dead.

The Japanese foreign minister also paid a courtesy call on Philippine President Benigno Aquino III at noon Thursday.

Kishida arrived in Manila on Wednesday night on his first official visit overseas as foreign minister after prime minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet took office in late December. He will also visit Singapore, Brunei and Australia.