Phl to other countries: Thanks for so many things

NAYPYITAW – The Philippines is grateful to friends “for so many things,” according to President Aquino.

In meetings in this Myanmar capital, Aquino thanked the leaders of Japan and Australia for extending help to victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda and supporting a peaceful, rules-based resolution of maritime disputes in the South China Sea.

Aquino also expressed gratitude to India for helping the Philippines following the Bohol earthquake and super typhoon last year. The President met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit here yesterday.

In an interview with Manila-based reporters, Aquino said he thanked Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a bilateral talk and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott in a pull-aside meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit.

“I kept on thanking them for so many things. Number one, common to both is the assistance to Haiyan (Yolanda’s international name),” Aquino said, noting that Japan has “renewed assistance” to the Philippines.

Aquino said they also discussed “in passing the common stance with regards to settling the issues on the South China Sea based on the rule of law.”

“In our case, we specified UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) and then ITLOS (International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea) as mechanisms,” he added.

According to Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. who attended both meetings, Aquino and Abe “reaffirmed their countries’ shared values and strategic partnership, as well as solidarity in ensuring freedom of navigation and rules-based dispute resolution on maritime entitlement issues.”

Abe also reiterated his support for the Aquino administration’s peace building efforts, especially in Mindanao.

“Prime Minister Abe said that Japan would like to continue its defense equipment cooperation program, based on the Philippines’ needs, following agreement on the deployment of patrol vessels for the Philippine Coast Guard,” Coloma said.

“He urged continuing consultations to further improve the investment climate in the Philippines. He also cited Japan’s 20-billion yen assistance in developing the Philippines’ transportation and traffic infrastructure and in improving flood risk management,” Coloma added.

The Japanese leader said Japan is also further relaxing its visa requirements for Filipinos as part of its ongoing efforts to improve people-to-people interaction between Japan and Philippines and to promote tourism.

Aquino in turn thanked Abe for Japan’s continuing support for various infrastructure development projects such as the anti-flood program, Greater Manila interchange program aimed to ease traffic congestion and studies on additional mass transport systems.