NAIA Terminal 2, Pasay City
24 June 2014

President Benigno S. Aquino III left the country past six o’clock in the morning for a one-day working visit to Japan to meet with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo and to give a keynote address in the 6th Consolidation for Peace for Mindanao Conference in Hiroshima.

In his departure statement, the President said he will be discussing significant issues affecting the region and other areas of cooperation that will enhance relations between the two countries. He will also personally express the country’s gratitude for all the assistance extended by the government of Japan in various fields of development like tourism, investment and trade, and disaster preparedness.

He is set to join and address the international participants of the peace conference that was organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the University Science of Malaysia (USM).

“Paksa ng pagtitipong ito ang implentasyon ng kasunduan pangkapayapaan sa pagitan ng ating pamahalaan at ng Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Ibabahagi natin dito ang tagumpay ng nilagdaan nating Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro at ang mga susunod pa nating hakbang tungo sa mapayapang Mindanao,” he said.

He remarked that Japan is the Philippines’ largest trading partner for the past years and provides the biggest official development assistance (ODA).

“Ang Japan nga po ang isa sa dalawang bansang mayroon tayong strategic partnership at ito po’y talagang makabuluhan at kapaki-pakinabang para sa ating mga bansa. Sa ugnayan pong tulad nito, kailangan ang patuloy na konsultasyon sa isa’t isa upang lalo pang tumibay ang ating alyansa,” added the President.

President Aquino is scheduled to return on the same day.

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