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Japan’s Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi expressed his country’s initiative to seek cooperation for infection control measures on Friday in a virtual meeting with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
The two officials discussed various aspects of the defense partnership between the two countries, particularly on capacity building efforts, regional security cooperation, and measures to counter the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We would like to share information on how to prevent cases of infection during relief activities amid the pandemic,” Kishi said in his first meeting with Lorenzana since his appointment on September 18 this year.
Lorenzana, for his part, expressed the commitment of the Department of National Defense to strengthen the strategic alliance with Japan.
Both countries also reiterated the importance of upholding the principles of freedom of navigation in the region.
The Philippines strongly advocates addressing territorial and jurisdictional disputes in the Western Philippine Sea by peaceful means, Lorenzana noted.
Lorenzana said that, as the national coordinator of the 2018-2021 ASEAN-China Dialogue Association, “The Philippines remains firmly committed to working with other ASEAN members and Plus countries, and with China for the early conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct. “.
“I welcome the results of the Joint Philippines-Japan Working Group on Cooperation in Logistics and Defense Equipment and Technology during the Inaugural Defense Industry Forum last year, which served as the stage to develop logistics and industrial collaboration between our ministries, ”Lorenzana said.
“We recognize Japan’s efforts to support ASEAN member states’ advocacy initiatives through its active participation in ADDM Plus and its updated Vientiane Vision 2.0,” Lorenzana added.
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