ID :
209304
Sun, 09/25/2011 - 16:03
Auther :

N. Korea, Spratlys on agenda for Aquino's talks with Noda

MANILA, Sept. 25 Kyodo -
Philippine President Benigno Aquino left for Japan on Sunday for a four-day official visit to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.
Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said Aquino's visit is aimed at furthering his country's strategic cooperation with Japan and building stronger bilateral relations.
Aquino is scheduled to meet with Noda on Tuesday, when he is expected to raise the fragile security situation in the Korean Peninsula and the maritime dispute over a chain of islands in the South China Sea.
Aquino will tell Noda that the Philippines supports ''efforts to secure the resumption of the six-party talks'' to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, according to a government document prepared for the visit.
The six-party talks, which were last held in December 2008, involve the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia.
On the South China Sea issue, Aquino will stress that Japan and the Philippines ''have a shared stake'' in preserving the peace and securing freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, the document said.
Aquino and Noda are expected to issue a joint statement affirming the two countries' commitment to nurturing mutually beneficial cooperation, Philippine foreign ministry officials said.
Upon his arrival in Japan, Aquino will visit Miyagi Prefecture including the city of Ishinomaki, one of the cities most severely hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
On Tuesday, the president will also meet with leaders of the Japan Business Federation, known as Keidanren, the Japan-Tokyo Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and the Japan Philippine Economic Cooperation Committee and executives of top Japanese firms, according to the secretary. He will witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding on new investment projects totaling about $1.1 billion.
Aquino will call on Emperor Akihito, who will be hosting a Court Luncheon in his honor on Wednesday.
It will be Aquino's third visit to Japan as president. In November 2010, Aquino visited Japan to participate in the APEC leaders meeting in Yokohama, and in August this year, Aquino held a secret meeting outside Tokyo with Philippine Muslim rebel leaders.
Japan is the number one trading partner of the Philippines and also its largest source of official development aid.

2011-09-25 21:16:31

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