Senior Officials from the Philippines and Japan Meet to Deepen Strategic Partnership 

Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro and Senior Deputy Minister Yamada Shigeo head the delegation of the 5th Philippines-Japan Vice Ministerial Strategic Dialogue (DFA-OPCD Photo by Philip Fernandez)

PASAY CITY 7 September 2022 –   The 5th Philippines-Japan Vice Ministerial Strategic Dialogue (VMSD) was held in Manila today, 7 September 2022. Hon. Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, DFA Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs, chaired the VMSD with Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs YAMADA Shigeo.

To keep the positive momentum generated by the recent series of high-level engagements including the inaugural PH-Japan Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (“2+2”) held in Tokyo in April 2022, the VMSD was convened to firm up the next steps in the second decade of the PH-Japan Strategic Partnership, which is now on its 11th year. 

Delegates from PH and Japan recalled the “rocket start” of the bilateral relations under the new administrations in PH and Japan, and expressed desire to make use of such momentum in bringing the Strategic Partnership to new heights.

As maritime states, PH and Japan consider their maritime cooperation an integral part of the two countries’ bilateral cooperation. The VMSD reaffirmed the continuation of maritime cooperation through various projects that promote maritime domain awareness, improve maritime law enforcement capability, and build capacity through various training programs.

PH and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen their political and security coordination. Both sides exchanged views on new and emerging areas of cooperation such as on food security, energy security, cybersecurity, space and health, in a bid to make the relations more responsive to the challenges of the ever-evolving security environment.

The Philippine side acknowledged Japan’s important contribution to the country’s infrastructure development, and to Mindanao through various socio-economic programs. These are key to ensuring that PH, particularly Mindanao, contributes to the overall peace and stability in the region by building resilience against economic recession and security challenges. 

Both sides likewise exchanged views on developments in the region and the wider Asia-Pacific area. Japan reaffirmed its support for ASEAN processes and ASEAN centrality, as both countries prepare for the 50th Anniversary of ASEAN-Japan Dialogue Relations in 2023. The two sides affirmed the necessity of close regional and international cooperation if the region is to benefit from the post-pandemic re-opening of economies. END

Delegation members of the 5th Philippines-Japan Vice Ministerial Strategic Dialogue. (DFA-OPCD Photo by Philip Fernandez)