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Japan, South Korea, Taiwan leaders leave Manila after APEC summit


The leaders of Japan, South Korea, and a representative of Taiwan left Manila Friday following their attendance at the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference  leaders’ summit held from November 18 to 19.
 
Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and wife Akie Matsuzaki-Abe departed around noon.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On the sidelines of APEC summit, Abe had a bilateral meeting with President Benigno Aquino III where they discussed enhancing defense and security relations. The Philippine leader took the opportunity to request for large patrol vessels to the Philippine Coast Guard. Abe committed to “consider the specifics.”
 
His wife, Akie Abe, meanwhile, visited Salt Payatas Foundation Philippines Inc., a Japanese non-government organization that has been providing scholarships and livelihood opportunities, particularly for women in Payatas, Quezon City, since 1995.
 
She was also moved to tears when she visited a foster care shelter for street children in Blumentritt, Manila. 
 
Park Geun-Hye
 
On the other hand, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye left the country Friday afternoon.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In a meeting with Aquino on the sidelines of APEC, Park said her government would continue to provide assistance in other areas of mutual interest, as well as medical services, such as transportation infrastructure, agriculture and the development of water resources. She also vowed to push ahead with a new project for 2016 to help enhance police investigation capabilities in the Philippines. 
 
The two countries also vowed to expand bilateral cooperation on health care as Park laid out measures to further enhance cooperation on the basis of a memorandum of understanding that covers healthcare cooperation.
 
The MOU includes building a sound foundation for cooperation on healthcare and medicine, setting policies on public healthcare and diseases, and strengthening cooperation on telemedicine technologies. 
 
Aquino, meanwhile, encouraged firms from Korea to invest in shipbuilding, automotive manufacturing, food production, food processing and agribusiness, electronics, energy and renewable energy, finance and banking, infrastructure and public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
 
He also thanked Korea for supporting several infrastructure projects, including the Samar Pacific coastal road. The Korean government committed to support the project until 2018.
 
The participation of Korean firms in modernizing the Armed Forces of the Philippines could be expected after the meeting between Aquino and Park.
 
Park is the first female president of South Korea. She was elected in 2012 and sworn in office on February 2013.
 
Taiwan rep Vincent Siew
 
Meanwhile, Taiwan's representative, former vice president Vincent Siew, and wife Susan Chu departed before noon Friday. 
 
He was appointed by Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou as his representative to the annual conference because of his “expertise, background, experience, and connections will undoubtedly substantively enhance the nation's influence in the trade regime within the Asia-Pacific.”
 
Because of "One China Policy,” only a Chinese Taipei's representative, and not its president, is invited to attend the APEC meetings. The policy recognizes that there is only one China—Mainland China—and views Chinese Taipei as a renegade island. 
 
Taiwan is a self-ruling democratic island which separated from mainland China in 1949. —Amita Legaspi/KG, GMA News
Tags: apec2015, shinzoabe, parkgyunhye, vincentsiew
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