Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has reiterated the necessity for a navy pact with Japan that’s much like the Philippine-United States’ Visiting Forces Agreement throughout a gathering with Japanese lawmakers on the National Diet on Tuesday.
Zubiri and 9 different senators met with their counterparts headed by Japan-Philippine parliamentarians Friendship League chairman Moriyama Hiroshi.
“Japan’s support has been a major boost to our defense systems and practices,” the Senate president was quoted as saying.
“I am hopeful that we can move forward with the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement as well, as Japan has done with the United Kingdom and Australia,” he continued.
During President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s official go to to Japan in February, Zubiri expressed hope that the Philippines and Japan would begin the preliminary dialogue on Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement.
Marcos earlier mentioned that he and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishido mentioned a doable VFA between the 2 states “very briefly.”
According to Zubiri, Moriyama emphasised in the course of the assembly that the Japanese authorities intends to develop its protection cooperation efforts additional with the total assist of the parliaments.
Apart from the navy pact, the Senate chief mentioned the Filipino and Japanese lawmakers additionally deliberated on the present bilateral relations between the 2 international locations, particularly within the areas of commerce and business, tourism, catastrophe administration, and safety.
The Senate president additionally prolonged the nation’s gratitude to Japan for offering important help to the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro and for the assorted loans and grants that have been provided to the Philippines.
He particularly talked about Japan’s supply of air surveillance radar programs to the Philippine Department of National Defense, with the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force conducting coaching for the Philippine Air Force in dealing with and working the system.
“We are here to show that the Philippines and Japan are more than just friends. We are strategic partners. We are brought together by shared values and ideals, and we deal with shared problems as well. As such, it is incredibly important that we strengthen our cooperation, toward the overall success of our countries and of the region,” mentioned Zubiri.
The Senate chief additionally invited the Japanese parliament to go to the Philippines for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum which shall be hosted by the Philippine Senate and the House of Representatives in November.
Joining Zubiri in Japan have been Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito, Senators Sonny Angara, Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano, Sherwin Gatchalian, Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, Mark Villar. They have been accompanied by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano.—AOL, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
