Pangako ni Speaker Romualdez, Japanese counterpart

NAKIPAGPULONG si Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez nitong Martes sa kanyang Japanese counterpart, si Speaker Fukushiro Nukaga, sa Tokyo at kanilang napagkasunduan na suportahan ang lalong pagpapalakas sa bilateral relations ng Pilipinas at Japan.

Ayon kay Speaker Romualdez, ang bilateral relations sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Japan ay “at an all time high.”

“We have very strong diplomatic relations, particularly involving defense and economic ties. We express our deep appreciation for Japan’s role in securing, nurturing, and accepting over 300,000 Filipinos who reside here,” ani Speaker Romualdez kay Speaker Nukaga, Vice-Speaker Banri Kaieda, at House of Representatives International Affairs Department Director General Yamamoto Hironori sa pagpupulong na ginanap sa Tokyo parliamentary building.

“Our countries have continually engaged with each other since last year, a clear indication of the firm commitment of both our countries to our decades-long cooperation,” sabi pa ni Speaker Romualdez, lider ng Kamara na mayroong mahigit 300 kinatawan.

Sinabi ng lider ng Kamara de Representantes na ang Japan ay napatunayan ng Pilipinas bilang isang maaasahang partner sa iba’t ibang larangan gaya ng official development assistance (ODA), maritime security initiatives, at pagtaguyod sa pag-unlad at katatagan ng rehiyon.

“As the number one provider of official development assistance, you have helped us in our economy in many aspects. You have also helped us in time of disaster, calamities, and we would also like to thank you for the support from the JICA, that continues to bring our economy to fruition,” ayon pa kay Speaker Romualdez. “We thank Japan government and the people of Japan for all the support and the assistance through the ODA.”

“Japan remains one of the Philippines’ most dependable partners,” dagdag pa ni Speaker Romualdez. “Our shared universal values, including freedom, democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and a free and open economy, underpin our strategic partnership.”

Nagpasalamat naman si Speaker Nukaga kay Speaker Romualdez sa pagkilala nito sa tulong na naibigay ng Japan.

“Thank you very much for mentioning the wide range of good things. I’m very glad that Japan and the Philippines have built a very good bilateral relations,” sabi ni Speaker Nukaga.

Mula ng itaas ang relasyon ng Pilipinas at Japan sa strategic partnership noong 2011, lumawig na ang kooperasyon ng dalawang bansa sa mga tradisyonal na larangan gaya ng politika, depensa, at ekonomiya.

Ang dalawang bansa ay mayroon na ring maritime cooperation, peace process, at people-to-people exchanges kasama na ang turismo.

“We have managed to expand our relations to encompass various sectors. These efforts have significantly contributed to strengthening our strategic partnership,” punto pa ni Speaker Romualdez.

Matatandaan na bumisita si Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa Japan noong Pebrero 8-12, 2023, kung saan nakausap nito si Prime Minister Kishida Fumio at nakipagkita kina Emperor Naruhito at Empress Masako.

Pumunta naman si Prime Minister Kishida sa Pilipinas noong Nobyembre 3-4, 2023.

Muling bumisita si Pangulong Marcos sa Japan noong Disyembre 16-18, 2023, upang dumalo sa 50th ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit. Sinamantala rin ng First Couple ang pagkakataon at muling binisita ang Emperor at Empress.

Ipinagdiwang ng Pilipinas at Japan ang ika-67 normalized relation nito noong Hulyo 23, 2023, at ika-12 taon ng strategic partnership nito mula noong 2011.

Matapos ang World War II, iginugol ng dalawang bansa ang kanilang atensyon sa pagpapaganda ng kanilang relasyon.