Press Releases
Welcome Luncheon with the President of the Philippines in Yokohama
October 27, 2016
- On Thursday, October 27, commencing at 12:30 pm for approximately one hour, Mr. Nobuo Kishi, State Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Ms. Fumiko Hayashi, Mayor of Yokohama City, hosted a luncheon to welcome H.E. Mr. Rodrigo R. Duterte, President of the Republic of the Philippines, in Yokohama.
- A total of approximately 40 people from the Japanese and Philippine sides attended the luncheon. There were active discussions in a congenial atmosphere, centered on President Duterte, touching on the friendly relations between Japan and the Philippines, and exchanges between Yokohama and Manila as sister cities.
- The overview of State Minister Kishi’s remarks is as follows.
Yokohama and Manila are sister cities, and it is a great pleasure to be able to welcome President Duterte in Yokohama. This morning a patrol boat that Japan is providing to the Philippines was named Malabrigo (note) here in Yokohama. Japan is pleased to contribute to bolstering the capabilities of the Philippine coast guard through provision of this patrol boat. It is my heartfelt hope that we can use the opportunity provided by 2016, which marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of the Japan-Philippines relations, to further strengthen our already vibrant bilateral relationship and promote further exchange between Yokohama and Manila.
Note: The name of a lighthouse on Luzon Island. - The overview of Mayor Hayashi’s remarks is as follows.
Yokohama and Manila became sister cities in 1965, and the two cities have held exchanges in cultural, educational, and other fields. Yokohama is also contributing to the urban development of Metro Cebu in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Japan provided grant aid for “wastewater processing” based on a proposal by Yokohama and is promoting waste recycling by companies located in the city. I hope to continue to promote exchange with the Philippines and request the assistance of President Duterte, who has made the utmost efforts to promote urban development for over 20 years as the Mayor of Davao.
