SENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian thanked outgoing Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya for his efforts to deepen defense and security cooperation between Manila and Tokyo, and promote greater Japanese investments in the country.
He said Endo’s work with the Japanese Chamber of Commerce helped create more investment opportunities and strengthen economic ties between the Philippines and Japan. Gatchalian made the remarks as the Senate received Endo, as he concluded his tour of duty in the Philippines.Gatchalian credited Endo for his substantive contributions to seven decades of friendship and comprehensive partnership between the two countries. He recognized the ambassador’s role in advancing cooperation in defense and security at a time when the Philippines and Japan have been steadily expanding their strategic ties. Endo thanked Gatchalian, adding parliamentary exchanges would remain an important part of bilateral ties. He mentioned the planned visit to Manila by a Japanese Senate delegation next month and the expected visit of a high-level Philippine Senate delegation to Tokyo later this year. Japan remained one of the Philippines’ major development partners, particularly in infrastructure, transportation and other large-scale projects supported through the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
