Davao International Airport, Davao City
October 31, 2017
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte arrived at the Davao International Airport, Davao City after embarking on an Official Visit to Japan.
The Chief Executive was on a two-day visit to Tokyo, Japan’s capital city, where he spoke with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, met with high-ranking Japanese government officials, and had an audience with the Imperial couple, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.
In his arrival speech, President Duterte informed the Filipino people of his productive trip to Japan as he engaged in dialogues that intensified the bilateral cooperation between the two countries. “On top of our agenda is vital support for the centerpiece projects under the Philippines’ ‘Build, Build, Build’ program, discovers huge impact social infrastructures projects that our country needs to sustain economic growth, and improve the quality of life of our people. Many more projects will be rolled off under Japan’s trillion yen or close to nine billion dollars pledge of assistance,” the President said.
“I met with industry leaders in Tokyo who signed business agreements valued at six billion dollars. This is more than three times the amount of sealed businesses agreements during my first visit to Japan in 2016,” he added.
President Duterte also reported that the two countries would work together with regards to security threats in the region, saying, “The Philippines and Japan will intensify defense and security cooperation to combat terrorism, violent extremism, and transnational crimes.”
Furthermore, the President shared his thoughts and experience in meeting the Japanese Imperial couple. “I am humbled by the singular honor of meeting His Majesty Emperor Akihito in Tokyo. I conveyed to His Majesty our nation’s and people’s deep appreciation, gratitude for Japan’s continuing friendship and support with the Philippines’ peace and development goals,” he said.
President Duterte would meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe once again in the upcoming 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in the Philippines on November 13, 2017.
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