Abe, Duterte agree to Cooperate on North Korea, China

June 1, 2019

Tokyo--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte agreed on Friday to cooperate in addressing issues involving North Korea and China.

In their talks at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Abe and Duterte confirmed that their countries will work together to resolve issues linked to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs as well as its abductions of Japanese nationals decades ago.

The two leaders also agreed that Japan and the Philippines will collaborate on realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific region based on the rule of law, in an apparent effort to counter China's militarization of the South China Sea.

Abe welcomed a decision by Manila to lift an import ban on fishery products from the northeastern Japan prefecture of Fukushima, which hosts Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s <9501> disaster-stricken nuclear plant.

At a joint press conference with Duterte after their meeting, Abe said Tokyo "will continue to demand the scrapping and easing of other countries' import restrictions and make full efforts to dispel harmful rumors."

At their meeting, Abe, referring to Japan's introduction in April of a new work visa program, said Tokyo is willing to closely work with Manila to smooth the way for Japan to accept workers from the Philippines.

Duterte said that he feels deep sorrow over Tuesday's deadly stabbing of school children in Kawasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo.

Earlier on Friday, Abe held separate talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, calling for support to resolve the issue of North Korea's abductions at an early date. Jiji Press