An invitation for greater cooperation

On Oct. 20, Minister and Consul General, H.E. Takahiro Hanada participated in the

commemoration of the Leyte Gulf Landing. This year is the event’s 79th anniversary. Philippine government officials, embassy officials from the US and Australia, as well as representatives of veterans organizations and other esteemed individuals also graced the event.

In his speech, H.E. Consul General Hanada offered his deepest condolences to all the victims of the Second World War in the Philippines, and expressed his utmost respect to all individuals, including war veterans, who have greatly contributed to the peace and stability that we enjoy today.

Reflecting on our past and bearing in mind the feelings of deep remorse, Consul General Hanada affirmed Japan’s wishes for everlasting peace and its determination to uphold the rules-based international order. He also mentioned that Japan and the Philippines have become the closest of friends nearly eight decades after the war, and Japan has contributed to the development of the Philippines and in the province of Leyte as a top donor country of the ODA.

Furthermore, citing President Bongbong Marcos’s remarks that Japan is “a most reliable partner in times of both crises and of prosperity,” Consul General Hanada conveyed his sincere hope to elevate both Japan-Philippine relations and Japan-Philippine-US-Australia relations to greater heights.

Amid the increasingly challenging international security situations, including the situation in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine, and the complex situation in the Indo-Pacific region, Consul General Hanada mentioned that Japan would work closely with the Philippines, the US, and Australia as mutually trusted democratic partners toward a common goal of preserving the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific Region.