MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday shared a message for Japanese Emperor Naruhito as he celebrates his 63rd birthday on Feb. 23.
“I wish abundant happiness and blessings to His Majesty the Emperor as he leads Japan to continued prosperity and the promotion of peace,” Marcos mentioned in his toast remarks on the National Day of Japan and the emperor’s birthday celebration on the Japanese Embassy in Manila.
Emperor Naruhito formally ascended to the Chrysanthemum Throne on May 1, 2019 following the abdication of his father, Akihito.
He is the 126th monarch in line with Japan’s conventional order of succession.
Meanwhile, Marcos additionally acknowledged the sturdy ties between the Philippines and Japan, which he described as a “friend, neighbor, and strategic partner.”
“The breadth and depth of our engagement with Japan is a partnership for peace and progress, not only for Japan but certainly for the Philippines. Our strategic partnership is indeed stronger than ever,” he mentioned.
Marcos famous that Japan has been one of many Philippines’ companions within the efforts to comprehend the nation’s transformative agenda in infrastructure, social inclusion and protection, amongst others.
He, likewise, underscored the “vibrant” people-to-people cooperation in tourism and labor exchanges and lauded Japan’s unwavering help for peace and growth in Mindanao.
To recall, Marcos had an imperial viewers with the Japanese Emperor and Empress Masako throughout his journey to Japan earlier this month.
He conveyed the love and admiration of the Filipino individuals, together with the estimated 300,000 Filipinos who think about Japan their second residence.
Marcos additionally met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and mentioned a broad vary of cooperation, “revealing just how responsive and robust our partnership has grown since we established diplomatic relations in 1956.”
During Marcos’ five-day journey to Tokyo, Japan pledged to supply 600 billion yen (USD4.6 billion) in official growth help and private-sector funding to help the Philippines’ financial growth plan to change into an higher middle-income nation by 2025.
The Philippines and Japan additionally signed seven bilateral agreements that cowl cooperation in infrastructure growth, protection, agriculture, and data and communications expertise.
Marcos returned to Manila on Feb. 12 bringing residence USD13 billion value of funding pledges that may assist increase the economic system and generate round 24,000 jobs for Filipinos. (PNA)