Today, I am honored to join my colleagues in the Philippine Congress in extending a warm welcome to His Excellency Kishida Fumio, the Prime Minister of Japan, as he graced us with his presence in the Joint Session.
During Prime Minister Kishida’s visit, we would like to express our gratitude to Japan for recognizing the importance of upholding the values of freedom, the rule of law, and sustainable partnership. We highly appreciate Japan’s commitment to safeguarding our territorial integrity through collaboration and partnership. We aspire to enhance the training and upskilling of our armed forces by forging closer collaboration with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.
As we look to the future, we recognize the pressing need to address the challenges posed by climate change and the transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. We see opportunities for cooperation between our countries in the field of energy transition, and accelerate our progress towards a greener and more sustainable future.
Our people-to-people connections and cultural exchanges have laid the foundation for a strong bond between our nations, fostering mutual respect and understanding. We are grateful for Japan’s unwavering support and friendship, and we look forward to a brighter and more prosperous future together.
