Philippines, Japan agree to boost economic, security cooperation

President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to strengthen economic and security cooperation between the two countries.
Philippines, Japan agree to boost economic, security cooperation ảnh 1Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (right) and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. shake hands ahead of their talks at the Japanese premier's office in Tokyo on Feb. 9, 2023. (Photo: Kyodo)

Tokyo (VNA) – President of the Philippines FerdinandMarcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to strengtheneconomic and security cooperation between the two countries.  

Marcosis on a five-day official visit to Japan.

At their talks in Tokyo on February 9, Kishida pledged toprovide a support package worth 600 billion JPY (4.6 billion USD) for thePhilippines in 2023 and from Japan's public and private sectors.

Accordingto the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Japan will offer around 377 billion JPY inofficial development assistance (ODA) for commuter railway projects thatconnect Manila with its neighbouring cities of the Philippines, Japan's ForeignMinistry said.

Othereconomic cooperation programmes range from agriculture and telecommunicationsto energy security, the ministry added.

Kishidaand Marcos also welcomed their agreement on guidelines to smooth humanitariansupport and disaster relief operations by Japan's Self-Defence Forces in theSoutheast Asian nation./.

VNA

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