NAIA Terminal II, Pasay City
25 June 2014

President Benigno S. Aquino III and members of the Philippine delegation arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal II from his one-day working visit to Japan.

In his arrival statement, the President expressed his gratitude to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for a number of reasons: when he imposed visa relaxation to the Philippines, giving way to wider opportunities for both Filipino and Japanese citizens; and when he encouraged the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to exert further studies in improving the transportation system in Manila and neighboring cities, of which he pledged to evaluate the possibility of a subway system in the metro.

On the Bangsamoro peace talks, President Aquino shared Japan’s active participation in promoting peace and collective progress in Mindanao. Relatively, he invited the Japanese leader to attend the Philippine Development Forum in Davao this September to light up discussions on developing commerce and tourism industries in the Bangsamoro region.

Also on the President’s working visit agenda was the full implementation of the ASEAN-China Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and the creation of a Code of Conduct. Prime Minister Abe expressed his support in the country’s call for a peaceful resolution in the territorial disputes.

“Maikli man ang ating naging pagbisita, bawat minutong inilagi natin sa Japan — mula sa pagpapaigting ng ating ugnayan at paglatag ng panawagan para sa higit pang kapayapaan at stabilidad sa Mindanao o maging sa labas ng ating bansa — ang lahat ng ito, nakatutok sa pagpapabuti sa kapakanan ng ating mga Boss,” President Aquino said.

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