MANILA, Philippines – HANGAD ni Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru ang ‘closer collaboration’ sa gobyerno ng Pilipinas sa gitna ng “increasingly challenging regional security environment”.
Binanggit ito ni Shigeru sa miting kay Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Nagsagawa kasi ng informal talks ang dalawang lider sa sidelines ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings sa Laos noong Oktubre 10.
Sa pagbabasa ng Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sinabi aniya ni Pangulong Marcos na “he would like to further enhance cooperation with Prime Minister Ishiba” while praising the “strengthening of bilateral relations between Japan and the Philippines as well as the progress in Japan-US-Philippines cooperation.”
“In response, Prime Minister Ishiba gave greetings on his inauguration as Prime Minister and stated that he would like to further deepen cooperation with the Philippines in the midst of an increasingly challenging regional security environment,” ang sinabi pa ng ministry.
Kapuwa naman kinumpirma ng dalawang lider na “they will proceed with the procedures” para sa maagang pagpasok sa bisa ng Reciprocal Access Agreement na nilagdaan ng dalawang bansa noong Hulyo.
Bukod sa seguridad, nagpalitan din ng kani-kanilang pananaw sina Pangulong Marcos at Ishiba hinggil sa pagtutulungan sa larangan ng ‘economic security at agricultural technology.’
Sinabi naman ni Ishiba na sa kanyang unang overseas trip bilang bagong Japanese prime minister sa Laos at nakiisa sa ‘growing chorus’ laban sa “unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion” kahit saan sa mundo.
Sa 9th East Asia Summit noong Oktubre 11, nagpahayag ng kanyang pag-aalala si Ishiba sa situwasyon sa East at South China Seas at nanawagan para sa “peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law.” Kris Jose
