Press Releases
Japan-Philippines Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
December 16, 2023
On December 16, commencing at 2:10 p.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan held a Japan-Philippines Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Hon. Enrique A. Manalo, Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, who is visiting Japan to attend related events of the Commemorative Summit for the 50th Year of ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- Introduction
Minister Kamikawa welcomed Secretary Manalo’s visit to Japan. Minister Kamikawa mourned the victims of the earthquake and explosion in Mindanao on December 3, and extended her heartfelt sympathy to those wounded. Minister Kamikawa stated that the two countries had made significant achievements, including cooperation in such areas as security, economy, and people-to-people exchange while close Japan-Philippines and Japan-US-Philippines coordination are realized including through mutual summit-level visits between Japan and the Philippines. In response, Secretary Manalo appreciated that he was welcomed by the Japanese side on his visit, and stated that he would like to further develop Japan-Philippines relations in cooperation with Minister Kamikawa. - Bilateral Relations
Minister Kamikawa stated that she would like to further enhance cooperation in maintaining and strengthening the maritime security and order based on rule of law including by steadily carrying out the provision of coastal surveillance radar system through the Official Security Assistance (OSA) as well as by providing patrol vessels through ODA. The two ministers concurred to continue coordination to reach an early conclusion of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) as well as to steadily proceed with the materialization of Japan-U.S.-Philippines cooperation and transfer of defense equipment and technology cooperation.
Minister Kamikawa also stated that taking the opportunity of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Leaders’ Meeting and others, she would like to strengthen cooperation in energy transition and decarbonization, as well as to continue to steadily promote infrastructure cooperation. In response, Secretary Manalo expressed his appreciation for Japan’s cooperation to date and his desire to further promote cooperation with Japan in these areas. - Responding to regional and international challenges
The two ministers also exchanged views on various regional and international issues, and confirmed that they would continue to work together on such issues as the South China Sea, North Korea and Israel-Gaza situation including Filipino hostages of Hamas.