Duterte, Abe meet for 7th time as PHL, Japan reaffirm ties

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as the Philippines and Japan reaffirmed their diplomatic ties.

Duterte and Abe held talks at the premier’s office in Tokyo, their seventh meeting since the Philippine leader assumed office in June 2016.

The meeting came after the President delivered his keynote address at the 25th International Conference on the Future of Asia where he talked about the trade war between the United States and China, climate change, terrorism and the South China Sea issue. 

Speaking at a joint press conference, Duterte said he and Abe discussed modalities for "greater cooperation" in upgrading the Philippines’ defense capabilities, including in maritime security and maritime domain awareness.

The two sides also explored possibility of Japan opening its doors to foreign skilled workers.

Duterte also welcomed Japan's continued support for his ambitious infrastructure program "Build Build Build" and peace and development efforts in Mindanao.

He thanked Japan for the fresh commitment of around 25 billion yen for the development of Mindanao’s road network, vocational training facilities and equipment, and other projects.

It was not immediately clear whether Duterte and Abe discussed the South China Sea dispute but the President said they discussed challenges to regional maritime security, non-traditional threats, ongoing efforts to secure peace in the Korean Peninsula, and supporting free trade, and advancing the rule of law.

"Today, Prime Minister Abe and I have rededicated ourselves to the common vision of a stable, free, and prosperous Asian region. Nothing can less be expected when friends closer than brothers meet," Duterte said.

Abe meanwhile congratulated Duterte for the administration's "overwhelming victory" in the May 2019 midterm elections.

The premier said priority should be given to the strengthening of the administrative capacity of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority and the facilitation of disarmament of soldiers of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

He said Japan would continue to "strongly support" the sustainable economic development of the Philippines through assistance in quality infrastructure.

Abe also welcomed the decision of the Philippine government to to lift the import suspension of fishery products from Fukushima prefecture.

"Our two countries as strategic partners are closely cooperating in the area of security as well. While we will continue to engage in joint exercises and provide support in capacity building, we also intend to deepen our dialogue on the policy front," Abe said.

"During the course of the meeting this afternoon, we confirmed plans to strengthen our partnership as we confront such challenges as the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law, full implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions towards the denuclearization of North Korea and early resolution of the abduction issue."

After the meeting, Abe hosted a dinner in Duterte's honor.

A day before the bilateral meeting, Duterte praised Japan for having a word of honor, citing its development assistance to the Philippines and humane treatment of Filipino workers.

Malacañang said last month that Japan's new imperial era under Emperor Naruhito would "augur well" for relations between the two countries which normalized in 1956, more than a decade after Japan ended its occupation of the Philippines after suffering from a crushing defeat in World War II.

"With the accession of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito, there is renewed confidence that Japan’s ties with the Philippines – and indeed with the rest of the world – will be characterized by beautiful harmony," Duterte said during the joint press conference, even as he expressed the Philippines' "deepest respect and appreciation" to Emperor Emeritus Akihito.

"Emperor Emeritus Akihito’s reign was defined by amity with all nations and peoples. For the Philippines, in particular, that legacy is that of a meaningful friendship with special significance."

Meeting Naruhito was not on the agenda of the four-day working visit of Duterte, who is set to fly back to Manila on Friday night after his meeting with Abe. —NB, GMA News