PGMA's Speech during the Official Dinner in Honor of His Excellency Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan

PGMA's Speech during the Official Dinner in Honor of His Excellency Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan

Ceremonial Hall, Malacanang (09 Jan 2002)

HIS EXCELLENCY PRIME MINISTER JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI; VICE PRESIDENT AND MRS. GUIGONA; PRESIDENT RAMOS; PRESIDENT AQUINO; SENATE PRESIDENT AND MRS. DRILON; SPEAKER AND MRS. DE VENECIA; CHIEF JUSTICE AND MRS. DAVIDE; JAPANESE DEPUTY CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY ABE; MEMBERS OF THE JAPANESE DELEGATION; EXCELLENCIES OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS; DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO TENDER THIS BANQUET TO WELCOME AND HONOR THE PHILIPPINES FIRST OFFICIAL VISITOR FOR THE YEAR 2002 HIS EXCELLENCY PRIME MINISTER JUNICHIRO KOIZUMI AND THE MEMBERS OF HIS DELEGATION.

YOUR EXCELLENCY, YOUR VISIT TO THE PHILIPPINES IS RICH IN SYMBOLISM AND SIGNIFICANCE. THIS IS THE FIRST VISIT OF THE NEW CENTURY OF A JAPANESE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT TO THE PHILIPPINES. YOUR EXCELLENCY'S TRIP IS ALSO THE FIRST DESTINATION OF YOUR TOUR OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF ASEAN.

THIS BRINGS TO MIND THE VISIT OF PRIME MINISTER IKEDA DURING THE PRESIDENCY OF MY FATHER, DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL FOLLOWING THE VISIT, THE STATE VISIT OF THEN CROWN PRINCE AND NOW HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY EMPEROR AKIHITO.

IT ALSO BRINGS TO MIND THE VISIT 25 YEARS AGO OF PRIME MINISTER FUKUDA AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ASEAN-JAPAN FORUM. AT THAT TIME, THE PHILIPPINES WAS THE LAST LEG OF HIS ASEAN TOUR. BUT NOW THE PHILIPPINES IS THE FIRST LEG OF YOUR ASEAN TOUR. AND WE THANK YOU.

IN 1977, PRIME MINISTER FUKUDA SPOKE ABOUT THE NECESSARY INGREDIENT TO STRENGTHEN ASEAN-JAPAN RELATIONS CALLING FOR A HEART-TO-HEART UNDERSTANDING AMONG THE PEOPLES OF JAPAN AND SOUTHEAST ASIA. I WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT YOUR EXCELLENCY'S DECISION TODAY TO MAKE THE PHILIPPINES THE FIRST STOP OF YOUR ASEAN TOUR DEMONSTRATES THE LEVEL OF THE HEART-TO-HEART UNDERSTANDING WE HAVE NURTURED IN THE LAST FOUR DECADES OF OUR GOOD RELATIONS AND THE 25 YEARS OF ASEAN-JAPAN TIES.

YOUR EXCELLENCY'S CALL THIS TIME FOR CANDID PARTNERSHIP AND ACTING TOGETHER AND ADVANCING TOGETHER MARKS A HIGHER LEVEL OF RELATIONSHIP. YOUR INITIATIVES ON THREE PILLARS FOR COOPERATION, FOR PROSPERITY, STABILITY AND THE FUTURE CLARIFY YOUR EXCELLENCY'S VISION OF THE FUTURE PATH OF ASEAN-JAPAN RELATIONS BUILDING A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR REGIONAL PEACE.

HENCE, YOUR EXCELLENCY'S VISIT SYMBOLIZES -- AND I HOPE WILL SIGNIFY -- THAT THIS CENTURY WILL BE A CENTURY OF EXCELLENT NEIGHBORLINESS FOR PHILIPPINE-JAPAN AND ASEAN-JAPAN RELATIONS AND OUR OWN EVOLVING EAST ASIA COMMUNITY OF NATIONS.

WHEN WE LOOK AT THE WORLD ENVIRONMENT TODAY, WE REALIZE WHAT A CHALLENGE IT IS TO SUSTAIN AND KEEP THE EXCELLENT NEIGHBORLINESS DURING THE 21st CENTURY. WE ARE WITNESSES TO THE SOPHISTICATED CHALLENGES THAT THREATEN PEACE AND COULD UNDERMINE THE FUTURE OF MANKIND. EVEN AS WE SPEAK, THERE ARE PRESSING AND URGENT CALLS TO PAY ATTENTION TO HUMAN SECURITY.

IN RECENT MONTHS, WE NOTED JAPAN'S ACTIVE DIPLOMACY IN PURSUIT OF HUMAN SECURITY. JAPAN'S FORTHRIGHT STANCE AGAINST INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM TO THE EXTENT THAT IT HAS MODIFIED SOME OF ITS NATIONAL LAWS TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO THE U.N. AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS TO COMBAT TERRORISM DESERVES RECOGNITION.

THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM IS INTERLINKED WITH THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY. HENCE, JAPAN'S APPROACH TO SUPPORT ACTIVELY THE RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF AFGHANISTAN IS A RIGHT AND VISIONARY MOVE. THE SITUATION REMAINS TRUE FOR THE OTHER MUSLIM RURAL AREAS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA INCLUDING THE PHILIPPINES. WE IN THE PHILIPPINES SEE THE NEED TO PURSUE BROAD INTER-FAITH DIALOGUES. FOR INSTANCE, IN OUR CASE, TO PROMOTE CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM SOLIDARITY. TERRORISTS WISH TO INSTIGATE A RELIGIOUS WAR. WE MUST MAKE THE WORLD SITUATION TODAY AN OPPORTUNITY TO FORGE INSTEAD RELIGIOUS UNDERSTANDING, ECUMENISM AND SOLIDARITY.

THE PHILIPPINES IS GRATEFUL TO YOUR EXCELLENCY FOR YOUR CONTINUING COMMITMENT TO EXTEND DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE TO THE PHILIPPINES PARTICULARLY TO MINDANAO. JAPAN'S SUPPORT WILL HELP CREATE EMPLOYMENT, TAKE CARE OF THE HUMAN SECURITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE LOCAL POPULATION, FIGHT THE POVERTY THAT IS INTERTWINED WITH TERRORISM, AND PROMOTE RELIGIOUS UNDERSTANDING.

YOUR EXCELLENCY, THE PHILIPPINES RECOGNIZES THAT JAPAN'S CONTINUING ABILITY TO EXTEND O.D.A. TO THE PHILIPPINES AND THE REST OF THE REGION ALSO DEPENDS ON JAPAN'S OWN ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE. WE ARE AWARE THAT JAPAN IS PAINFULLY ADJUSTING TO THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECESSION NOW SWEEPING THE WORLD. YET, I MUST SAY, YOUR EXCELLENCY THAT YOUR PERSONAL STRENGTHS OF A HIGHLY POPULAR, REFORMIST AND VISIONARY LEADER WILL BE JAPAN'S PILLARS TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS ON ECONOMIC REFORMS. THE PHILIPPINES RECOGNIZES THE HARD DECISIONS AND CHOICES MADE BY THE JAPANESE PEOPLE AND APPRECIATES THOSE SACRIFICES MADE IN THE INTEREST OF ENSURING NOT ONLY LONG-TERM GAINS FOR JAPAN'S ECONOMY BUT ALSO FOR THE STABILITY OF THE WORLD ECONOMY. AFTER ALL, JAPAN IS THE LARGEST ECONOMY IN EAST ASIA AND THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE WORLD.

OUR PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT DEMAND THAT WE NEED TO THINK TOGETHER OF CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE WAYS TO DEEPEN OUR COOPERATION FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY. AT THE BILATERAL LEVEL, WE ARE NOW EXPLORING FINANCING PRIVATE SECTOR CAPITAL EXPANSION PROGRAMS THROUGH JAPANESE PUBLIC SECTOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL, THE PHILIPPINES WELCOMES JAPAN'S PIVOTAL ROLE IN ACCELERATING THE ASEAN+3 PROCESS TO HASTEN THE INTEGRATION OF THE ASEAN ECONOMIES WITH THAT OF CHINA, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND, OF COURSE, JAPAN. THE PHILIPPINES BELIEVES THAT JAPAN HAS A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS REGARD, MINDFUL OF THE FACT THAT JAPAN REPRESENTS TWO-THIRDS OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMY. MUCH WORK LIES AHEAD OF US. WE NEED TO ADOPT AND HARMONIZE INDUSTRIAL STANDARDS AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS COMPATIBLE FOR EVERY NATION IN THE EAST ASIA REGION. WE MUST CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE CONSOLIDATION OF FINANCIAL AND MONETARY STANDARDS, NOW INSTITUTIONALIZED UNDER THE ASEAN+3 FRAMEWORK THROUGH THE CHIANG MAI INITIATIVES. THE BILATERAL SWAP CURRENCY ARRANGEMENTS NOW UNDERWAY AMONG CERTAIN COUNTRIES COULD FIND UNIVERSAL APPLICATION AMONG ASEAN, CHINA, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND, OF COURSE, JAPAN. THERE IS IMMEDIATE NEED TO FOCUS ON THESE CONCERNS AS WE PREPARE OUR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES FOR A NEW W.T.O. REGIME WITH CHINA, THE RECENT LAUNCHING OF THE EURO CURRENCY, AND THE CONTINUING CHALLENGE OF COPING WITH AND MANAGING THE EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION.

YOUR EXCELLENCY, AN IMPORTANT MEASURE OF CLOSE INTEGRATION IS THE EXTENT OF THE LEVEL OF EXCHANGES AND MOVEMENT OF OUR PEOPLE IN EACH OTHER'S COUNTRIES. THE INCREASING INTER-MARRIAGES BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN -- IN FACT, MENTIONED BY HIS MAJESTY THE EMPEROR WHEN I VISITED HIM IN JAPAN LAST TIME -- THESE INTER-MARRIAGES PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN BRIDGING CLOSER AND DEEPER LINKAGES BETWEEN OUR COUNTRIES.
PRIME MINISTER FUKUDA WAS A STRONG ADHERENT OF INTENSIFYING EXCHANGES BETWEEN JAPAN AND ASEAN. YOUR EXCELLENCY HAS SHOWN VIGOROUS COMMITMENT TO THIS PRINCIPLE BY DECLARING THE YEAR 2003 AS THE ÒYEAR OF JAPAN-ASEAN EXCHANGE.Ó THE PHILIPPINES WELCOMES AND SUPPORTS YOUR LAUDABLE INITIATIVE. I WILL BE IN JAPAN AGAIN IN MAY THIS YEAR. AND I THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME TO VISIT JAPAN IN THE YEAR 2002. I HOPE THAT MY PRESENCE IN MAY IN A SYMPOSIA ORGANIZED BY TWO IMPORTANT JAPANESE MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS WILL BRING THE FILIPINO NATION AND PEOPLE CLOSER TO THE JAPANESE. WE NEED TO FURTHER EXPAND THESE EXCHANGES AND REACH OUT TO OTHER NORTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES.

YOUR EXCELLENCY, BY THE YEAR 2006, THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN WILL COMMEMORATE THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS. BUT I THINK TONIGHT, WE SHOULD ALSO GREET YOU -- BECAUSE IT IS THE 60th ANNIVERSARY OF YOUR OWN NATAL DAY, YOUR BIRTH. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! AND TODAY, UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP, WE CAN SEE THAT THE CHARACTER OF THE BILATERAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN HAS MATURED AND IS GEARING INCREASINGLY TO OUR EVOLVING AWARENESS OF OUR REGIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. AN IMMEDIATE MANIFESTATION OF THAT CONSCIOUSNESS IS OUR SHARED COMMITMENT TO THE PHILIPPINE-JAPAN PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH WE SIGNED THIS AFTERNOON REGARDING THE FIRST PROJECT WITH EAST TIMOR AS THE FIRST BENEFICIARY. ANOTHER MANIFESTATION OF OUR REGIONAL RESPONSIBILITY IS OUR MUTUAL COMMUNITY OF NATIONS -- THRIVING ON SUCCESSFUL ECONOMIC, MONETARY, POLITICAL, AND SECURITY COOPERATION. WE COULD DEVELOP A THIRD ONE -- EXPLORING OUR RESPECTIVE SECURITY ALLIANCE WITH THE UNITED STATES TO IMPROVE MUTUAL OPERATIONAL COMPATIBILITY ESPECIALLY FOR FUTURE U.N.-SPONSORED PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS.

YOUR EXCELLENCY, I AM FULL OF OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE OF PHILIPPINE-JAPAN RELATIONS WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF THE REGION AND THE WORLD. AND ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT YESTERDAY WAS YOUR 60th BIRTHDAY -- A JUBILEE YEAR IN THE JAPANESE CULTURE -- I BELIEVE THAT THE BIRTH OF PRINCESS AIKO ALSO REPRESENTS A GOOD OMEN FOR ALL JAPANESE UNDERTAKINGS AND ENDEAVOR THIS CENTURY.

AND SO MAY I NOW INVITE EVERYBODY TO JOIN ME IN A TOAST FOR THE CONTINUED SUCCESS AND HEALTH OF THEIR IMPERIAL MAJESTIES AND HIS EXCELLENCY PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI, TO THE CONTINUED PROSPERITY AND WELL-BEING OF JAPAN AND ITS PEOPLE, AND TO PHILIPPINE-JAPAN RELATIONS.

MABUHAY!

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