FULL TEXT: Indonesia president speech and toast during PH state visit

Statement of Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
Joint press conference during his state visit to the Philippines
Reception Hall, Malacañan Palace
9 February 2015

Thank you very much. President Aquino my visit here, the state visit to the Philippines is to preserve the tradition among Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries.

And during our meeting, we have discussed priority bilateral issues such as border issues, political cooperation, legal cooperation and also the protection of our citizens and all migrant workers. And we also discussed the cooperation in economic sector and also education as well as the people-to-people context.

With regards to the border cooperation, we welcome the resumption of the negotiation on the continental shelf border and also the review of the border agreement and also the border patrol agreement which was agreed in 1975.

With regards to another political, legal and also security issues, I am happy that the cooperation to combat the illicit drug trafficking has also been signed today and also we had discussed the potential that we would like to offer on the trade of defense equipment.

I also appreciate Philippine’s involvement in the protection of migrants and migrant workers; and also with respect to the economic field and cooperation, I would like to increase our trade volume, to double the trade volume by 2016.

And also I wish to invite investors in the Philippines to Indonesia in the maritime sector and fisheries sector.

And also the cooperation is imminent in people-to-people contact, I wish to convey to you that our cooperation in  education sector, the sister school program initiative and also the exchange of students and teachers who will be beneficial for people-to-people contact.

And also in this occasion, I would like to invite President Aquino to attend the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference that will be held in Jakarta and Bandung on the 22-24 April, 2015 as well as the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2015 that will be held in Bali.

I am also happy that today we have witnessed the signing of MOUs on combating illicit drug trafficking and also the technical vocational education and also the joint declaration on the protection of migrant and migrant workers.

Thank you very much.

 

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Toast of Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo
During the State dinner held in his honor
Malacañan Palace
9 February 2015

Your Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen:

On behalf of the government and the people of Indonesia, I wish to thank Your Excellency and the people of the Philippines for the invitation and the excellent hospitality given to us during our stay in Manila.

Let me also congratulate Your Excellency on your birthday. My best wishes for your health, happiness, and continued success in leading this great nation.

Your Excellency, the Philippines is an important country for Indonesia. It is one of the fastest growing economies in emerging Asia. Allow me to congratulate Your Excellency for all the achievements of the Philippines under your leadership.

I believe we have had a productive discussion this afternoon on a range of issues, including reaffirming our commitment to achieve the target of doubling our bilateral trade by 2016.

I’m pleased to witness the signing of joint declaration on the protection of migrant workers, as well as the MOU on vocational education and training, combating trafficking and narcotics, and education, and defense and security.

Your Excellency, I’m confident that today our bilateral relationship is excellent and will only continue to grow stronger.

Finally, let us now raise our glasses in toast for the well-being and happiness for His Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino, and for the continued friendship between the people of Indonesia and the Philippines.

Thank you.
 

source: globalnation.inquirer.net

Japanese Business Leaders Push Cooperation

MANILA, Philippines — Visiting top Japanese business leaders are pushing for concrete ways of cooperation with the Philippines on infrastructure, power situation, regional economic integration and development plans.

This was expressed during the visit of the Keidanran (Japan Business Cooperation), an umbrella organization of Japan’s key business conglomerates and industry associations, who is on a three-nation visit in ASEAN. The Philippines is their last stop after visiting Vietnam and Malaysia.

“They are looking for concrete ways of cooperation. This shows strong interest in the Philippines,” said Trade and Industry Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. after meeting with the 17-man Keidanren mission.

For instance, Cristobal said, the meeting discussed concerns on infrastructure development, on power situation, and the regional economic integration of ASEAN.

During the meeting, DTI Secretary Gregory L. Domingo gave an update on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects. Domingo also informed the visiting Japanese businessmen of the government’s programs for power generation build-up, particularly on building more power capacity in Mindanao.

On the PPP, the Japanese businessmen inquired on the bidding processes, the modified rules, transparency and fair conduct of bidding.

“They are going to participate in the PPP and this will further strengthen the business climate and further increase Japanese investments in the country,” he said. The Japanese is the country’s number one source of foreign direct investments.

The Japanese also expressed support for the general review of the Philippines-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement, especially on the movement of natural persons.

The Japanese are also interested in the services sector as they need nurses and caregivers.

Cristobal said that Keidanren supports the Philippine position that the government examinations given to Filipino caregivers be conducted in the mother tongue.

“We asked that the exams have English translation and they are supportive of that so this is a recognition on the value of our caregivers,” he said.

On regional economic integration, the Japanese have been enthusiastic of the ASEAN+ 6 regional partners.

“We also informed them that the Philippines is interested in joining the Trans Pacific Partnership and we are doing studies and consultations,” Cristobal said.

With the full economic integration of ASEAN by 2015, the Japanese would like to get a perspective on how to create a seamless business environment within the region in terms of infrastructure and systems.

The mission also shared its perspectives with regards to the pathway towards achieving the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP), such as the TPP and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia (CEPEA), and the development of the key wide area infrastructure in the Greater Mekong Subregion and island areas in ASEAN for the development of concrete actions.

The 17-man Keidanren mission is chaired y Yonekura Hiromasa, chairman of the Sumitomo Chemical Co. Ltd.

source: mb.com.ph