Aquino meets Ambassador of Japan
President-apparent Sen. Benigno Aquino III met Japan Ambassador Makoto Katsura.
The envoy paid a courtesy call on Thursday, but they did not discuss about the controversial Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement or JPEPA.
“We did not discuss the JPEPA,” Katsura said after the meeting in Aquino’s home on Times Street in Quezon City. Aquino opposed the Senate’s ratification of the agreement in 2009.
Under JPEPA, 95 percent of Philippine exports to Japan will have zero duties, with the tariffs on most industrial goods to be removed 10 years after the agreement is in place.
The issue of JPEPA is among Aquino’s legislative concerns, he said during the election campaign, criticizing the deal as one-sidedness in favor of Japan.
The terms were negotiated under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and endorsed by the Senate.
But they did talk about was the “splendid cooperation” between Japan and the Philippines, Aquino said.
He and Katsura also discussed about Japan’s anti-corruption measures, the senator noted, saying there is too much red tape and a lack of infrastructure in the Philippines.
Mindanao peace problem was also a topic, Aquino added.
Katsura said, his purpose was to sincerely congratulate Aquino.
“I came here to congratulate the senator. I expressed my heartfelt congratulations,” Katsura said.
Katsura is the third foreign dignitary to acknowledge Aquino’s superior lead in the ongoing count of election returns from the May 10 polls.
Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao paid the senator a courtesy call earlier in the day.
US Ambassador Harry Thomas already visited him last week.
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