Japan will provide “dynamic support” in helping a long-time-ally, the Philippines, attain upper Middle Income Country (UMIC) status by 2025 while supporting the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in a wide range of areas of cooperation.
This was contained in the joint statement between the Philippines and Japan released Thursday in Tokyo during the historic bilateral meeting between President Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Prime Minister Kishida said this will be achieved through active contribution of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) and private-sector investment of JPY 600 billion in Japanese Fiscal Years 2022–2023.
The Asian leaders also reaffirmed their distinct, continued commitment to facilitating the steady implementation of ongoing and future economic cooperation projects through the High Level Joint Committee on Infrastructure Development and Economic Cooperation toward the Philippines’ attainment of UMIC status and beyond.
At a joint press occasion in Tokyo, President Marcos said he and the Japanese leader had a “deeply engaging bilateral meeting” covering the full range of Philippines-Japan bilateral relations.
“And after our meeting, I can confidently say that our Strategic Partnership is stronger than ever as we navigate, together, the rough waters buffeting our region,” the President said.
“The future of our relationship remains full of promise, as we continue to deepen and expand our engagements across a wide range of mutually beneficial cooperation,” Marcos added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Kishida also expressed Japan’s intention to contribute to the development of quality transport infrastructure in the Philippines in light of the “Build, Better, More” program of the Marcos administration, as well as equitable regional development in the Philippines including Mindanao.
The Japanese official also expressed support for President Marcos’ priority agenda to maintain the competitiveness of Philippine agriculture and to achieve food security, while increasing farm productivity, efficiency and farmers’ income.
The two leaders welcomed the signing of a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) that provides a framework for agricultural cooperation, such as the establishment of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, exchanges on agricultural and rural development policies, cooperation in resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems, smart technology, and strengthening food value chain, among others.
“Philippines is Japan’s neighbor across the ocean and is a strategic partner sharing fundamental values. Today, discussion was held with President Marcos on bilateral cooperation on economy, security and defense, and people-to-people exchange, and deepening of cooperation in wide-ranging areas were strongly affirmed,” said Kishida. #
