Nippon Press Center Building
Tokyo, Japan
5 June 2015

President Benigno S. Aquino III appeared before the members of the Japan National Press Club (JNPC) on the last day of his State Visit to Japan.

In his statement, President Aquino thanked the JNPC for its invitation to engage with the members of the Japanese media. The President emphasized that a free and responsible media is necessary to any healthy democracy. He stressed that his meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had given him an additional impetus to the already dynamic and strategic partnership between the two countries.

The President also noted that the coming years will be interesting for both the Philippines and Japan in its strategic partnership, considering that both nations have a common appreciation of the synergies between its economies, and both governments are undertaking sweeping and critical reforms across various fronts to facilitate and strengthen the Philippines’ national responses to emerging challenges.

After his statement, the President was asked various questions by the media, particularly on the expansion of the Visiting Forces Agreement and the issue on the South China Sea.

After the interview, the President received a souvenir fountain pen from JNPC.

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