Kishida makes historic speech before PH Congress

CNN Philippines

The Japanese leader addressed a special joint session of Congress before wrapping up his official visit.  Kishida says ties between Japan and the Philippines will only get better.  Xianne Arcangel reports.   Visit our website for more #NewsYouCanTrust: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/  Follow our social media pages:  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CNNPhilippines • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cnnphilippines/ • Twitter: https://twitter.com/cnnphilippines

Transcript

00:00 His Excellency, Kishida Fumio.

00:03 The House and Senate convened in a joint special session on Saturday

00:07 to hear the message of visiting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

00:11 Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and House Speaker Martin Rumaldes

00:15 presided over the session, which started at 11 a.m.

00:19 Kishida is the first Japanese Prime Minister to speak in a joint session

00:23 of Philippine Congress, and only the sixth foreign head of state to do so.

00:27 Applause rang in the plenary when Kishida mentioned how the United States,

00:31 Japan and the Philippines are jointly working to protect maritime freedom

00:36 in the South China Sea.

00:37 In the South China Sea,

00:40 the trilateral cooperation to protect the freedom of the sea is underway.

00:46 Through these efforts,

00:49 let us protect the maritime order,

00:52 which is governed by laws and rules,

00:55 not by force.

00:58 Kishida says bilateral ties between Japan and the Philippines are now at a

01:02 "golden age" with cooperation extending beyond the economy to national defense.

01:08 He says Japan will continue to support development initiatives in the Philippines,

01:12 particularly the Marcos administration's ambitious infrastructure program.

01:17 Japan will also strengthen security cooperation with the Philippines.

01:21 Japan will continue to contribute to the enhancement

01:24 of the Philippines' security capabilities,

01:27 thereby contributing to regional peace and stability.

01:32 Romualdez and Zubiri welcomed the announcement for a reciprocal access

01:36 agreement between Japan and the Philippines.

01:39 Similar to the Visiting Forces Agreement or VFA with the U.S.,

01:43 the RAA will provide a legal framework for joint military exercises to be held

01:48 with Japanese troops in the country.

01:50 We will ratify that.

01:52 I have already obtained a majority.

01:54 We need more than 16 votes.

01:56 I believe we have more than that to ratify the RAA in the Senate.

02:01 Japan has invited leaders from ASEAN member states to Tokyo next month for a

02:06 summit to mark the 50th anniversary of their friendship.

02:10 Kishida says he's looking forward to meet President Bongbong Marcos at the event

02:14 to discuss ways to boost what he called as the "golden friendship"

02:18 between ASEAN and Japan.

02:20 See you in Arcangel, CNN Philippines.

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