Japan PM arrives in Manila, meets Philippine President Duterte
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Meeting
Manila, Jan. 12, 2017 (dpa/NAN) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday, arrived in the Philippines for a two-day visit and meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte to discuss security cooperation, the report said.
The meeting will be taking place amid China’s rising assertiveness in the South China Sea.
Duterte was scheduled to host a state banquet at the Malacanang presidential palace for Abe.
They will later to fly to the Southern city of Davao, where the Philippine president served as mayor for more than 20 years.
The premier is the first foreign leader to visit the Philippines under the administration of Duterte, who lashed out of U.S. and other Western states that have criticised his deadly drug war.
Observers said that the visit to Davao was a sign that Abe wants to develop their personal relationship.
“Most importantly as Tokyo wants to stop the Philippines from moving closer to China amid soured ties between Manila and Washington.
“It’s very significant that the prime minister is visiting the house of President Duterte,” Victoria Quimbo, a professor at the Asian Institute at the University of the Philippines said.
She said that “the Japanese are here to show their support at a time when there is an uncertainty in the political, economic and security situations around the globe.’’
The premier’s trip comes a week before the inauguration of Donald Trump as U.S. president.
In October, Japan rolled out the red carpet for Duterte, his first visit to the country since taking office in June, which followed his trip to China.
On Saturday, Abe is scheduled to hold talks with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull before traveling to Indonesia and Vietnam.
“I would like to have frank discussions with the countries’ leaders as to how we can contribute to the [Asia-Pacific] region’s peace and stability,” Abe told reporters before leaving Tokyo.
Japanese government officials said that the premier hopes to share with the four countries his concerns about China. (dpa/NAN)
(Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/ Julius Enehikhuere)