PINAG-USAPAN nina Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ang mga “better solutions” upang matugunan ang negatibong epekto ng mga taripa na ipinataw ng Estados Unidos.
“On the status of the global economy, we discussed the tariff measures taken by the United States, as well as the impact felt on the multilateral free trade regime and the world economy because of the reciprocal retaliations seen with the United States and China,” ani Ishiba sa isang joint statement matapos ang bilateral meeting sa Palasyo ng Malakanyang.
Ayon kay Ishiba, may mga posibleng paraan upang tugunan ang mga potensyal na hamon sa ekonomiya na dulot ng bagong patakaran sa taripa ng Estados Unidos.
“Many Japanese companies have been playing a role in the local economy here in the Philippines. I conveyed to President Marcos that I will listen carefully to the voices so that they will be able to bring forth better solutions,” dagdag pa ni Ishiba.
Tinuran naman ni Pangulong Marcos na nananatiling isang “reliable and steadfast partner” ng Pilipinas ang Japan.
Kinikilala niya ang Japan bilang pangalawang pinakamalaking economic partner ng bansa at isa sa mga pangunahing bilateral partners pagdating sa kalakalan, pamumuhunan, at development cooperation.
“With the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement that we have in place, we continue to look for ways to strengthen our business ties with Japan to broaden economic opportunities for Filipinos,” ani Pangulong Marcos.
“We appreciate Japan’s development assistance, which we see as the gold standard for development cooperation. It is primarily because it supports our maritime domain awareness, infrastructure, food security, improved climate change adaptability, digital transformation, agriculture, space, cyber technology, health, energy, and many others,” dagdag pa niya.
Binigyang-diin din ng Chief Executive ang mahalagang papel ng development cooperation ng dalawang bansa sa Mindanao peace process, sabay sabing ito ay “uplift the lives of Filipinos and promotes economic competitiveness in Mindanao.”
Ipinahayag naman ni Ishiba ang kahandaan ng Japan na makipagtulungan sa Pilipinas gamit ang “uniquely Japanese strengths” upang matulungan ang administrasyong Marcos na maabot ang “upper-middle income status.”
“I explained that we will work with the Philippines in a package of cooperation covering telecommunications, AZEC (Asia Zero Emission Community), energy, mineral resources, infrastructure and disaster risk reduction, and others. The President and I agreed to further strengthen our partnership in these areas,” pahayag ni Prime Minister Ishiba. Kris Jose
