The Japanese Emperor Hosts Dinner to Welcome Philippine President; Japan-Philippines Joint Statement Directly Targets China
On the evening of the 27th, according to Japan time, a palace banquet hosted by Emperor and Empress of Japan was held at the "Hōmei-den" hall in the Imperial Palace, to welcome Philippine President Marcos and his wife as state guests. In his speech, the Emperor expressed heartfelt hopes that "the mutual trust between our two nations will continue to deepen further." Prince Hisahito, the eldest son of the Akishino family, made his first appearance at a palace banquet. Meanwhile, President Marcos delivered a parliamentary address at the Japanese House of Councillors starting at 17:00 on the 28th, Japan time. Additionally, the draft of the joint statement issued after the summit meeting between Japan and the Philippines on the evening of the 28th has already been leaked.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines. Ten years ago, during the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalization, the then-Emperor visited the Philippines and expressed sorrow over the large number of Filipinos who died during the fierce battles of the Pacific War, stating: "This is something that must never be forgotten."
Meanwhile, the draft of the joint statement released after the Japan-Philippines leaders' meeting on the evening of May 28 has also surfaced. The draft is titled "Jointly Building Our Future." It emphasizes "the importance of resolving maritime disputes peacefully in accordance with international law." In the domain of economic security, the statement expresses concern about economic coercion and import/export restrictions by neighboring major powers, which could severely impact global supply chains.
Source: rfi
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866437219750999/
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