Duterte to meet Abe to further strengthen Japan-PH ties

Just after the recently-concluded Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, President Rodrigo Duterte and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have already set eyes on meeting again in the next few months. This meeting, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr., aims to further strengthen the ties of the two countries. Yasay said Japan is one of the Philippines’ biggest trade partners and has provided the country with assistance in terms of infrastructure and development in Mindanao. “They have supported us very strongly insofar as our claims in the West Philippine Sea is concerned and that was a very strong indication of our close relationship,” Yasay added. Yasay also said the government is grateful for Japan’s commitment in beefing up the Philippines’ law enforcement capability. “Japan is one of our strongest traditional partners in the area and we are very very happy,” the Foreign Affairs secretary said. Japan has...