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The Second Meeting of the Joint Committee of the Agreement between Japan and the Republic of the Philippines for an Economic Partnership

December 18, 2009
Japanese

  1. The Second Meeting of the Joint Committee established under the Agreement between Japan and the Republic of the Philippines for an Economic Partnership (herein after referred to as “the JPEPA”) was held in Manila today, the 18th of December 2009.


  2. The meeting was co-chaired by H.E. Shigeru Nakamura, Ambassador for International Trade and Economic Affairs from the Japanese side, and H.E. Dr. Thomas G. Aquino, Senior Undersecretary of the Department of Trade and Industry from the Philippine side. Officials and experts from the relevant ministries and agencies of both Governments also participated in the meeting.


  3. In the meeting, both sides exchanged views on the operation and implementation of the JPEPA since its entry into force on 11 December 2008, expressing general satisfaction for the overall achievements under the JPEPA. They reviewed the key aspects of the JPEPA, including reports from the Co-Chairpersons of the five (5) JPEPA Sub-Committees that convened during the past year, namely, the Sub-Committee on Trade in Goods, Sub-Committee on Trade in Services, Sub-Committee on Movement of Natural Persons, Sub-Committee on Improvement of the Business Environment, and Sub-Committee on Cooperation. The Philippine side, in particular, expressed satisfaction at the smooth implementation of Chapter 9 of the Agreement, on the Movement of Natural Persons.


  4. Both sides stressed that the JPEPA constitutes a solid basis for the furtherance of the strategic partnership between Japan and the Philippines. Both countries will, in the coming months, continue to further promote, review and assess the implementation of the JPEPA, by making full use of the Agreement’s consultative mechanisms, represented by the Joint Committee and Sub-Committees.


  5. The next meeting of the Joint Committee will be hosted by Japan in the second half of 2010. The specific timing and the agenda will be coordinated through diplomatic channels.


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