By ROY C. MABASA
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met with Vice President Sara Duterte in Tokyo on Monday, Sept. 26, to discuss various aspects of the Japan-Philippine relations, most particularly on peace and security development in the Bangsamoro region.
Duterte is currently in Tokyo to attend the State Funeral for the late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo.
During the meeting that lasted for about 10 minutes, the Japanese prime minister conveyed his gratitude to Duterte for attending the funeral, as well as to the Philippines Congress for adopting resolutions of sympathy on the passing of Abe.
Abe, the longest-serving leader in modern Japan was assassinated on July 8, 2022 while speaking at a campaign rally in Nara City.
According to a media handout of the meeting provided by the Japanese Embassy in Manila, Kishida acknowledged Duterte for being the first cabinet member under the Marcos administration to visit Japan.
In their meeting, the prime minister informed Duterte of Japan’s programs to facilitate the improvement of agricultural and fisheries value chains and the collection of small arms and light weapons in Mindanao, as well as to render educational support for junior government officers of the Philippines to study in Japan.
He emphasized Japan’s commitment to work together based on the Philippines’ needs toward the establishment of an autonomous government in Bangsamoro in 2025.
Vice President Duterte, for her part, reiterated her appreciation for Japan’s infrastructure development programs and the Mindanao peace process.
Both Kishida and Duterte also exchanged views on the situation in the East and South China Seas and “economic coercion,” among others, and affirmed to work closely on these issues.
