RP, Japan strengthen relations on 50th year of diplomatic ties

The Japanese government is focusing on three areas to further strengthen its ties with the Philippines, as the two countries celebrate the 50th year of the normalization of their diplomatic relations.

These areas include concluding the ongoing efforts for a Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement, improving the investment climate in the Philippines to attract more foreign direct investors, and to renew Japan's Official Development Assistance to the Philippines.

His Excellency Ryuichiro Yamazaki, Japan's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Philippines, visited Cebu yesterday and talked about the highlights of the Philippines-Japan diplomatic relations since its normalization in 1956.

Yamazaki said that with the conclusion of the efforts for a JPEPA, the economic relations of the two countries will be "more comprehensive, more interactive, and more mutually beneficial."

Yamazaki acknowledged that the Philippines, like in Cebu, continues to have a conducive climate for business, thus, Japan is never closing its doors for possible investments here.

JPEPA aims to include a possible free-trade agreement and other components covering services, investment, human resources development and other forms of cooperation.

It also aims to include not only elements of a free-trade agreement, but also other issues that are in need of improvement such as non-tariff barriers to goods, services and investment and other areas such as information technology, support for small and medium enterprises, and tourism.

With the renewal of Japan's ODA to the Philippines, government and non-governmental organizations will be able to undertake more projects to improve livelihood particularly in the countryside.

To date, there is a loan of ¥2,033 billion, a grant of ¥248 billion, and technical cooperation of ¥171 billion with the ODA.

Yamazaki believes that the elements that glue the two countries from 1956 until today include the shared values on democracy, freedom and respect to human rights. The two countries are also neighbors linked by common sea lanes, but void of maritime territorial issues.

Japan will be a dialogue partner in the ASEAN Summit, which will be held here in Cebu on December 11 to 14. - Joeberth M. Ocao