00:00Philippine and Japanese officials are joining forces to deepen ties, signing agreements to boost defense, trade, and infrastructure as part of a long-standing partnership.
00:10The two countries aim to keep the peace and hold the line in the region while marking 70 years of restored diplomatic relations.
00:17Argad Villegas tells us more.
00:19Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Teresa Lazaro and Japanese Foreign Minister Motege Moshimitsu held a bilateral meeting today as part of Motege's two-day official visit to the Philippines.
00:32The Philippines is one of the first countries visited by Motege this year.
00:35They discussed the strengthening of the strategic partnership between the two countries, particularly in the aspects of defense, security, trade and investment, infrastructure development through Official Development Assistance or ODA,
00:49economic security, agriculture, particularly the Philippines' banana export, protection of the supply chain, semiconductors, the Luzon Economic Corridor, and the development of Mindanao.
01:00The two countries also want to further strengthen their cooperation with the United States to maintain peace and stability in the region.
01:07The two officials discussed regional and international matters, including the Philippines' chairship of ASEAN this year and developments in the South China Sea.
01:15The two countries here recognized their observance of the rule of law, including the freedom of navigation and of overflight in the region.
01:23We reiterated the Philippines and Japan's shared commitment to upholding the rules-based order governed by international law and the importance of resolving disputes peacefully and through dialogue.
01:35We also held candid discussions on regional and international situations and shared our views with each other.
01:42Particularly, we concurred on continuing to oppose unilateral attempts to change status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China Seas.
01:52Among these signs in their bilateral meeting was the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement or AXA,
01:58where there will be reciprocal provision of supplies and services between the armed forces of the Philippines and Japan's self-defense forces.
02:05Japan also extended its official security assistance to the Philippines,
02:09which will strengthen the Department of National Defense to protect the country's territory and prevent any threat to the peace, stability, and security of the region.
02:17Japan will also assist in the construction of the Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi or Basulta wireless backbone network that will connect 40 government network sites
02:27and provide free public internet access points in the three provinces as part of our government's efforts to improve internet connectivity in the region,
02:36which will benefit more than 250,000 individuals.
02:39Secretary Lazaro and Foreign Minister Motegi consider these agreements to be important for deepening the relationship between the two countries.
02:46The signing of these agreements reflect a close and evolving collaboration between the Philippines and Japan
02:53under our strengthened strategic partnership and support ongoing collaboration across priority areas of the part of the relationship,
03:03as we part this year as the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations.
03:10Based on the trust established with Secretary Lazaro during this visit,
03:13This year, the Philippines and Japan celebrates the 70th year of the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
03:29Gav Villegas from the National TV Network for New and Better Philippines.
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