New Japanese envoy arrives in PHL

New Japanese ambassador-designate to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa arrived in Manila on Friday, the Japanese embassy in Manila announced.

Ishikawa, in a statement, said he will work to further enhance bilateral ties between the Philippines and Japan through continued cooperation.

"As I take on the role of Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines, I hope to make significant contributions that would further strengthen the bilateral relations between our two countries, adding to the legacy of friendship and cooperation arduously achieved by those who have come before me," he said.

He said he is honored to receive his first assignment as ambassador in the Philippines.

The new envoy, a previous Director-General of the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, said he is "fully aware of the strategic importance of the Philippines in this region."

Ishikawa said Philippine-Japan ties had evolved through the years, possibly due to many common attributes such as democracy and free market principles.

"At present, we are enjoying successful strategic partnership under the governance of President (Benigno III) Aquino and Prime Minister (Shinzo) Abe. On top of Japan still being the largest ODA donor to the Philippines, this partnership manifests itself through heightened support in regional security and maritime safety, enhanced trade and investment relations taking advantage of the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), and continuous support in the peace process in Mindanao," he said.

Born April 28, 1955, Ishikawa graduated from the University of Tokyo in March 1980, and University of Pennsylvania in 1982. He studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Economics in 1983.

He entered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in April 1980 and has served in various positions at MOFA.

Ishikawa was appointed ambassador to the Philippines in August 2014. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News