[Provisional Translation]

On Thursday, June 28, Mr. Katsuya Okada, Deputy Prime Minister, received a courtesy call from H.E. Albert F. Del Rosario, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, who was visiting Japan upon invitation by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, from 11:45 am for approximately 40 minutes. An overview of the meeting is as follows. (Attendees from the Philippines side included Mr. Manuel M. Lopez, Ambassador of the Philippines to Japan, and Ms. Erlinda F. Basilio, Undersecretary for Policy, Department of Foreign Affairs, among others. Attending for the Japanese side were Mr. Toshinao Urabe, Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, and Mr. Kunio Umeda, Director-General, Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs Department, among others.)

1. Deputy Prime Minister Okada welcomed Minister Del Rosario's visit to Japan, and stated that the fact that the bilateral relationship was confirmed as a "strategic partnership" when H.E. Mr. Benigno S. Aquino III, President of the Republic of the Philippines visited Japan last September had a very significant meaning. In response, Minister Del Rosario stated that the "strategic partnership" is significant progress in the bilateral relationship, which marks 56 years since the establishment of the diplomatic relations, and that both countries share common values, issues, and aspirations. Furthermore, Minister Del Rosario praised the firm determination and disciplined action of Japan, which is advancing in its reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake. He also stated that he was pleased that Japan was steadily promoting its reconstruction and that believed Japan would become a much stronger country.
   
   
2. Furthermore, Minister Del Rosario mentioned that the two countries had maintained fine economic relations based on the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA), and requested that Japan make further efforts to accept candidates for nurses and care workers from the Philippines. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Okada mentioned efforts by Japan, such as the improvement of national examinations in consideration of the candidates, and stated that he would like to continue improvements. Deputy Prime Minister Okada also stated that the economic relations between Japan and the Philippines are mutually complementary and that further strengthening of the economic relations is desired and it is actually possible. Furthermore, Minister Del Rosario expressed his gratitude for support via the Official Development Assistance (ODA) by the Government of Japan, stating that such support has contributed to the development of the Philippines.
   
   
3. With regard to the Mindanao Peace Process, Minister Del Rosario also expressed his gratitude for Japan's contribution to the Peace Process through its presence in the International Monitoring Team (IMT) and the International Contact Group (ICG), and stated that President Aquino was strongly committed to achieving peace. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Okada stated that the Government of Japan would like to continue its support for the Peace Process.
   
   
4. In addition to the above, Deputy Prime Minister Okada and Minister Del Rosario exchanged opinions on regional situations and other issues.