Outgoing Japanese Ambassador Bids Farewell to Secretary Locsin

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. (left) and Japanese Ambassador Haneda Koji (right) during the Farewell Call at the Department of Foreign Affairs

PASAY CITY 03 November 2020 – Outgoing Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Haneda Koji paid a farewell call on Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. today at the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Ambassador Haneda, who took up his post in Manila in October 2017, is due to wrap up his tour of duty later this month, and upon returning to Tokyo, will also conclude four decades in the Japanese Foreign Service.

Secretary Locsin expressed the Philippine government’s sincere appreciation to Ambassador Haneda for his many contributions to the deepening of overall relations between the Philippines and Japan, and commended the Ambassador for his role in sustaining Japan’s track record of vigorous support for key undertakings, including infrastructure development, maritime security capacity-building, and the peace and development in Mindanao, particularly areas recovering from conflict.“Thank you for your support and understanding in further strengthening our already good relations,” The Ambassador responded.

Ambassador Haneda is concluding his term at a time Japan is also extending generous assistance to the Philippines' COVID-19 response and recovery measures.

Joining the call were Mme. Maria Lourdes B. Locsin, Mme. Haneda Ihoko, and Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Affairs Meynardo LB. Montealegre. END

(From left to right) Mme. Maria Lourdes B. Locsin, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., Japanese Ambassador Haneda Koji, Mme. Haneda Ihoko (Photo by DFA-OSCR Nilo K. Palaya)