New envoy vows to enhance Japan-PH ties

FILE: Philippine Ambassador to Japan H.E. Jose C. Laurel V (right) received incoming Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Koji Haneda (left) at the Philippine Embassy Chancery in Roppongi on September 6. (Photo by Philippine Embassy Tokyo, Japan)

MANILA — Japanese Ambassador-designate to the Philippines Koji Haneda has vowed to enhance the strategic partnership and friendly ties between the Philippines and Japan during his tenure.

“Building upon the past achievements, I pledge to exert every effort to further advance the strategic partnership and the friendship between our two countries,” he said in a speech upon his arrival here on Saturday.

Haneda noted that through the years, the partnership with the Philippines has achieved “tangible outcomes” in many areas.

These include infrastructure projects on an unprecedented scale, capacity building in counter-terrorism and maritime security, defense cooperation, and continued commitment of support to the Mindanao peace process, he said.

“I am also pleased to see the ever-growing people-to-people exchange between the Philippines and Japan in every field and level,” he added.

The ambassador-designate further said bilateral relations have advanced to a significant level, as represented by the state visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress in January 2016 and other frequent mutual visits of their leaders.