The first Philippines-Japan Vice Ministerial Strategic Dialogue was held at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affars in Tokyo on March 23, pursuant to the 2011 Joint Statement signed by President Benigno S. Aquino III and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Undersecretary for Policy Erlinda F. Basilio led the Philippine delegation, which included Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel M. Lopez and Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro.
The Japanese delegation was led by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Koro Bessho and Director General Kunio Umeda of the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department.
The two countries undertook a comprehensive review of relations and engaged in extensive and fruitful discussions on key regional developments, as well as bilateral and multilateral issues relevant to the strategic direction of Philippine-Japan relations, acknowledged to be one of the Philippines’ most dynamic.
Japan affirmed its sustained support for Philippine economic development, including through enhanced trade and investment, as well as through support for the public-private partnership (PPP) program. Japan also reiterated its support for the peace process in Mindanao and grassroots economic assistance projects in the island.
The Philippines and Japan also affirmed the relevance and value of their regular policy consultations and exchanges of views on key and pressing global and regional concerns, including maritime security and developments in the Korean Peninsula. Both governments vowed to strengthen their bilateral cooperation and collaboration in multilateral fora such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations (UN).
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