SPEECHES:
MR. VICE PRESIDENT; MR. SPEAKER. OH MR. SENATE PRESIDENT, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE YOU EARLIER.
TODAY I AM LEAVING FOR JAPAN TO REVISIT JAPAN IN THE THIRD STAGE OF A CONTINUING DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE.
THE FIRST STAGE WAS MY TRIP TO CHINA, TO BRUNEI FOR THE 7th ASEAN SUMMIT, THEN TO THE UNITED STATES LAST YEAR. IT WAS TO CONSOLIDATE OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE GLOBAL ANTI-TERRORISM CAMPAIGN, AS WE BEGAN SHAPING A REGIONAL RESPONSE STARTING FROM OUR IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE SECOND STAGE WAS MY TRIP TO LONDON AND CANADA, EARLY THIS YEAR, THEN ON TO THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IN NEW YORK. THIS WAS FOCUSED ON PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT, THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY, THE DRIVE FOR INVESTMENT, AMID THE FIRST STIRRINGS OF A GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
THIS THIRD STAGE STARTS WITH MY TRIP TODAY, TO LINK ASEAN TO THE NORTH, TO PROPOSE A STRONGER AND MORE COHESIVE EAST ASIA AS THE VANGUARD OF TRADE AND PROGRESS IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM.
IN MY FIRST PRESIDENTIAL VISIT TO JAPAN LAST SEPTEMBER, I ALREADY LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN JAPAN AND THE PHILIPPINES IN THE NEW ASIA-PACIFIC ENVIRONMENT.
AT THAT TIME, I WAS PRIVILEGED TO HAVE AN AUDIENCE WITH THEIR MAJESTIES, THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF JAPAN. I ALSO MET WITH PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI, WHO HIMSELF LATER VISITED MANILA IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.
THESE EXCHANGES OF VISITS
ARE VITAL IN ENHANCING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES AND IN
STRENGTHENING THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN OUR PEOPLES.
IN MY FOREIGN POLICY ANNOUNCEMENTS, I HAVE SAID MANY TIMES THAT THE PHILIPPINES FACES SEVERAL REALITIES IN OUR REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT TO WHICH WE HAVE TO RESPOND IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS. ONE OF THESE REALITIES IS THAT CHINA, JAPAN, AND THE UNITED STATES, AND THEIR INTERRELATIONSHIPS WILL HAVE A DETERMINING INFLUENCE ON THE SECURITY SITUATION AND THE ECONOMIC EVOLUTION OF EAST ASIA.
I ALSO HAVE SAID THAT WITH JAPAN, THE PHILIPPINES WOULD MOVE TO STRENGTHEN BILATERAL ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL RELATIONS.
JAPAN IS AN IMPORTANT PILLAR FOR THE CONTINUED ECONOMIC GROWTH OF EAST ASIA, GIVEN ITS HUGE CAPITAL AND TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES.
JAPAN IS OUR CLOSEST NEIGHBOR OUTSIDE OF ASEAN, OUR BIGGEST SOURCE OF DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, OUR SECOND LARGEST TRADING AND INVESTMENT PARTNER AND SOURCE OF TOURISTS, AND HOST TO A LARGE NUMBER OF OVERSEAS FILIPINOS.
DURING THIS VISIT, I WILL ADDRESS THE 8th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF ASIA ORGANIZED BY NIKKEI IN TOKYO, AND THE SYMPOSIUM ON ASIA AND JAPAN IN THE 21st CENTURY -- PROPOSALS BY FEMALE LEADERS ORGANIZED BY MAINICHI SHIMBUN IN OSAKA.
THESE EVENTS WILL ALLOW ME TO OUTLINE MY VISION OF THE PHILIPPINES-JAPAN PARTNERSHIP, IN LINE WITH PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI'S VIEW OF WORKING AND ADVANCING TOGETHER FOR EAST ASIA.
I WILL ALSO DISCUSS WITH PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI HIS INITIATIVE FOR CLOSER ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PHILIPPINES AND THE REST OF ASEAN. ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS PROPOSAL IS AN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OR EPA WHICH HE TALKED DURING HIS JANUARY VISIT TO MANILA.
THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF THIS INITIATIVE LIES IN THAT THE EPA PROMOTES STRONGER BILATERAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION NOT ONLY IN TRADE BUT ALSO IN THE FIELD OF LABOR MOBILITY, INVESTMENTS, HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, AND OTHER AREAS.
MY MEETINGS WITH BUSINESS GROUPS, ESPECIALLY THE KEIDANREN, THE LARGEST FEDERATION OF JAPANESE FIRMS, WILL ALLOW ME TO EXPLAIN THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MY ADMINISTRATION IN THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC FIELDS, INCLUDING OUR PROSPECTS FOR HIGHER ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE FUTURE.
I WILL ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPOUND ON SUCH CONCEPTS AS HUMAN SECURITY, THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RULE OF LAW IN THE GLOBAL REALM, AS WELL AS THE EMERGING POLITICO-SECURITY ENVIRONMENT IN THE REGION. THESE OCCASIONS WILL HELP SOLIDIFY THE UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN IN VARIOUS AREAS OF COOPERATION.
I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING THE LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN THE KANSAI REGION.
DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS SINCE I CAME BACK FROM MALAYSIA AND THAILAND, I HAVE BEEN ON THE ROAD IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. IMMERSED WITH OUR BEAUTIFUL HUMAN AND NATURAL RESOURCES, I AM ALL THE MORE DETERMINED THAT WE SHOULD DEFEAT POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE. I SHALL BRING THIS VISION TO JAPAN AND FLESH IT OUT IN THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRADE AND INVESTMENT THAT WILL FORM THE CORE OF OUR BENEFICIAL AND REWARDING RELATIONSHIPS.
AS ALWAYS, I SEEK YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND PRAYERS. AND I HOPE THAT THIS TRIP ONCE AGAIN WILL YIELD RESULTS THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COUNTRY AND TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF OUR PEOPLE.
THANK YOU.
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MR. TAKAYASU OKUSHIMA, PRESIDENT, WASEDA UNIVERSITY; MR. KATSUHIKO SHIRAI, VICE PRESIDENT, WASEDA UNIVERSITY; MR. NORIO OKAZAWA, VICE PRESIDENT, WASEDA UNIVERSITY; MR. HIKOTA KOGUCHI, DEAN OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS; MR. YASHUSHI KIKUCHI, PROFESSOR, INSTITUTE OF PACIFIC STUDIES; MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS; MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE DELEGATION; FACULTIES; STAFF AND STUDENTS OF WASEDA UNIVERSITY; DISTINGUISHED GUESTS; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
I AM DEEPLY HONORED TO RECEIVE THIS DOCTORATE OF LAW FROM ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITIES IN ASIA AND THE WORLD -- WASEDA UNIVERSITY.
YOUR INSTITUTION IS RENOWNED NOT ONLY FOR ITS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE BUT ALSO FOR ITS VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO JAPANESE SOCIETY. THROUGHOUT ITS 120 YEARS OF EXISTENCE, WASEDA HAS PROVIDED THIS COUNTRY WITH LEADERS AND ROLE MODELS IN THE VARIOUS FIELDS -- THE NATURAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES ESPECIALLY LAW AND ECONOMICS.
I FEEL A SPECIAL AFFINITY FOR WASEDA UNIVERSITY, WHICH HAS INSTITUTIONAL TIES WITH MY ALMA MATER, THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES. WASEDA ALSO HAS ACADEMIC TIES WITH TWO OTHER PHILIPPINE UNIVERSITIES -- DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY AND MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY -- UNDER WASEDA’S GLOBAL NETWORK PROGRAM. AND I AM VERY HAPPY TO LEARN ALSO THAT SOON MY OTHER ALMA MATER, THE ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY, MAY ALSO JOIN WASEDA’S GLOBAL NETWORK PROGRAM.
MY DEGREE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES WAS IN ECONOMICS. NOW, THIS CONFERMENT OF A DOCTORATE IN LAWS BRINGS ME CLOSER TO MY FATHER’S ACHIEVEMENT, THE LATE PRESIDENT DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL, WHO HELD TWO DOCTORAL DEGREES -- ONE IN ECONOMICS AND THE OTHER IN LAW.
INCIDENTALLY, IT WAS DURING THE PRESIDENCY OF MY FATHER THAT MY COUNTRY HAD THE HONOR OF RECEIVING THE STATE VISIT OF THEIR IMPERIAL MAJESTIES THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS OF JAPAN WHEN THEY WERE STILL CROWN PRINCE AND PRINCESS.
MY FATHER TAUGHT ME THAT BEYOND THE RULES AND JURISPRUDENCE, LAW IS A FORCE FOR EMPOWERING THE POOR. IN THE PHILIPPINES, THE OVERARCHING MISSION OF MY ADMINISTRATION IS TO ADDRESS THE PLIGHT OF THE UNDERPRIVILEGED WHO MAKE UP 40 PERCENT OF PHILIPPINE SOCIETY.
I REALIZE THAT TO ENSURE THE WELFARE OF PEOPLES, STATES MUST NOT ONLY STRENGTHEN INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND REGULATORY SYSTEMS AND LAWS, BUT MUST ALSO STRENGTHEN RULE MAKING AND UNIVERSAL NORMS -- INTERNATIONAL LAWS, IF YOU WISH -- IN SUCH AREAS AS TRADE, ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY. I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON EACH OF THESE THREE AREAS.
THE ENVIRONMENT IS ONE AREA THAT SHOULD TOP OUR GLOBAL AGENDA WHERE NORMS MUST BE AGREED UPON AND PROPERLY ADDRESSED. FOR INSTANCE, THE KYOTO PROTOCOL DESERVES SPECIAL MENTION, BECAUSE IT OUTLINES THE SPECIFIC MEASURES WHICH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS AGREED UPON TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASES BASED ON SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS.
AT THE 1992 EARTH SUMMIT IN RIO, GOVERNMENTS SIGNED THE FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, AN INTERNATIONAL TREATY THAT SET THE GOAL OF PREVENTING A DANGEROUS DISRUPTION IN THE CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSED BY HUMAN ACTIVITY. BUT THE CONCRETE PLAN FOR REDUCING GREENHOUSE GASES WAS SET FORTH BY THE KYOTO PROTOCOL IN 1997, WHERE 160 NATIONS MET AND NEGOTIATED AND AGREED THAT THE WORLD’S 41 INDUSTRIAL NATIONS WOULD CUT EMISSIONS BY 5.5 PERCENT BELOW 1990 LEVELS BY THE YEAR 2012. THE DETERMINATION OF INDUSTRIALIZED ECONOMIES SUCH AS JAPAN AND THE EUROPEAN NATIONS TO MAKE THE AGREEMENT A SUCCESS IS TRULY REASSURING.
ANOTHER AREA WHERE NORMS ARE CRUCIAL, INTERNATIONAL NORMS, IS THE ECONOMY. TRADE EXPANSION AND MARKET ACCESS ARE NECESSARY TO FURTHER SPUR GROWTH IN OUR ECONOMIES. BUT THE NEW DOHA ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS UNDER THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION MUST BE A DEVELOPMENT ROUND. IT MUST BE BROAD ENOUGH TO INCLUDE AREAS THAT WOULD BENEFIT ALL MEMBERS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT MUST NOT BE SO BROAD AS TO ENTAIL COMMITMENTS THAT WOULD BE BURDENSOME ON SOME MEMBERS ESPECIALLY THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
SINCE MANY MEMBERS ARE STILL STRIVING TO IMPLEMENT COMMITMENTS AGREED UPON IN THE PREVIOUS URUGUAY ROUND, IT IS IMPORTANT IF WE HAVE A DEVELOPMENT APPROACH. WE NEED AN APPROACH THAT WOULD BE MORE SUSTAINABLE AND WITH REINFORCED CREDIBILITY AND TRUSTWORTHINESS IN THE ECONOMIC WORLD. BECAUSE IF WE IMPOSE TOO MUCH ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, THEN IT WOULD NOT BE A CREDIBLE DEVELOPMENT ROUND.
SECONDLY, THE NEW ROUND SHOULD MAINSTREAM ECONOMIC TRENDS, PARTICULARLY GLOBAL TRADE, INTO A WIDER DEVELOPMENT AGENDA OF ERADICATING POVERTY. TO DO THIS, THERE SHOULD BE GREATER COHERENCE AND POLICIES AMONG INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS. IN OTHER WORDS, AMONG WTO, THE WORLD BANK, THE IMF, THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK.
THE TRADE REGIME MUST ACCORD SUFFICIENT FLEXIBILITY TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES FOR THEM TO PURSUE DEVELOPMENT GOALS SUCH AS POVERTY ALLEVIATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING IN AREAS WHERE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RULES NEGOTIATED UNDER THE URUGUAY ROUND HAD BEEN DIFFICULT. FOR INSTANCE, DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HAVE FOUND DIFFICULTY IN THE RULES REGARDING VALUATION, IN TRADE INVESTMENT MEASURES, IN TRADE RELATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, IN SANITARY AND PHYTO-SANITARY STANDARDS, IN TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE. IN ALL THESE, THERE SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT CONCERN FOR THE CAPACITY BUILDING AND FLEXIBILITY OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. THUS, THE PHILIPPINES LOOKS AT THE DOHA ROUND AS AN AREA WHERE WE CHOOSE WHAT WE WANT TO SUPPORT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS OR WHAT WE DO NOT WANT TO SUPPORT. IF THE NEGOTIATIONS WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR THE PHILIPPINE DEVELOPMENT THEN WE OPPOSE THESE NEGOTIATIONS.
FOR INSTANCE, THE PHILIPPINES OPPOSES CERTAIN NEGOTIATIONS IN THE FOLLOWING: LABOR, THE ENVIRONMENT, COMPETITION POLICY, AND INVESTMENT. THERE ARE OTHER AREAS WHERE THE PHILIPPINES HAS AGREED TO JOIN THE CONSENSUS. IN OTHER WORDS, IF THE REST OF THE COUNTRIES WANT TO PROCEED WITH NEGOTIATIONS, WE WILL AGREE. IF THE REST OF THE COUNTRIES FEEL THAT NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD, WE WILL AGREE AS WELL. SO WE WOULD HAVE NO SPECIFIC PREJUDICE FOR ANY PARTICULAR OUTCOME. THESE AREAS ARE THE FOLLOWING: TRADE FACILITATION, TRANSPARENCY AND OPENNESS IN GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT, AND THE LIBERALIZATION OF E-COMMERCE. SO
THIS IS AN AREA WHERE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO DEVELOP NEW RULES OF THE GAME. THESE ARE AREAS WHERE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC LAWS WILL HAVE TO BE DEVELOPED IN THE 21st CENTURY.
BUT, THE FIELD WHERE NORMS ARE PERHAPS MOST CRITICAL IN THE 21st CENTURY, IS ALSO THE MOST SENSITIVE AREA IN GLOBAL RELATIONS, AND THAT IS SECURITY. THE WORLD USED TO TEND TO TAKE SECURITY FOR GRANTED. BUT AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, WE HAVE SEEN THAT EVEN TERRORISM CAN RIDE THE WAVE OF GLOBALIZATION. THEREFORE, THERE MUST BE INTERNATIONAL LAWS AND INTERNATIONAL RULES TO ADDRESS HUMAN SECURITY.
WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY CULTIVATING ECONOMIC LINKAGES IN THE ASIA PACIFIC. BUT IF WE ARE TO PROGRESS TO A TRUE REGIONAL COMMUNITY, WE HAVE TO CULTIVATE DEEPER SECURITY RELATIONS AS WELL IN THE ASIA PACIFIC.
THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM OR ARF HAS A LOOSE STRUCTURE, BUT IT HAS ALLOWED US TO ADVANCE INTO THE SECURITY FRONTIER. ITS MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT HAS BEEN CONFIDENCE BUILDING. STILL THERE IS A NEED FOR ARF TO ADVANCE FURTHER INTO PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY IN CONFLICT RESOLUTION.
IT MAY BE TIME FOR OUR REGION TO EXPLORE MORE FORMAL REGIONAL SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS. IN SUGGESTING THIS, TWO MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS MUST BE BORNE IN MIND:
FIRST, FULL IMPORTANCE SHOULD STILL BE ACCORDED TO BILATERAL ARRANGEMENTS AND EVEN MULTILATERAL INITIATIVES IN ORDER TO ENSURE MULTIPLE LINKAGES; SECOND, THERE SHOULD BE NO INTENTION AT ALL TO FASHION A REGIONAL ALLIANCE LIKE NATO WHICH SPECIFICALLY AIMS AT CONTAINING MILITARY CRISIS.
AN ORGANIZATION WITH A MORE COMPREHENSIVE OUTLOOK IS PREFERABLE, INCORPORATING NOT ONLY POLITICAL AND SECURITY CONSIDERATIONS BUT ALSO ECONOMIC AND HUMAN SECURITY, AND EVEN ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION. IN THIS REGARD, THE ASIA-PACIFIC MAY LEARN FROM THE ARF, WHICH IS RIGHT NOW ONLY ASEAN. THE ARF HAS MORE POTENTIALS AS A LEGALLY ORIENTED ORGANIZATION. IT OPERATES BY CONSENSUS AND DEPENDS ON ITS MEMBERS CONFORMING TO NORMS AND ACTING UPON PRINCIPLES THEY HAVE DEFINED AND AGREED TO.
AS RECENTLY AS A DECADE AGO, THE VERY PROPOSAL OF A MULTILATERAL MECHANISM FOR REGIONAL SECURITY WAS NOT A WELCOME IDEA. DURING AN ASEAN POST- MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE IN 1991, HOWEVER, JAPAN PROPOSED A MULTILATERAL FORUM THAT WOULD DISCUSS REGIONAL SECURITY ISSUES. MANY PARTIES IMMEDIATELY EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS. HOWEVER, SOON ENOUGH THE PARTIES PROVED TO BE QUICK IN SEEING THE LOGIC AND SOUNDNESS OF THE PROPOSAL. THE U.S. IN FACT PROPOSED A MULTILATERAL SECURITY DIALOGUE IN ASIA IN 1993 AS ONE OF THE PILLARS OF A NEW PACIFIC COMMUNITY. AN ASEAN POST-MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE TOOK THIS UP THAT SAME YEAR, AND IN JULY THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM WAS BORN.
THE KEYS TO A PROSPEROUS AND STABLE ASIA PACIFIC REGION ARE MULTIPLE LINKAGES, AND THIS WOULD HAVE TO INCLUDE A SECURITY DIMENSION AS WELL. THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES AND THE ORGANIZATION FOR AFRICAN UNITY ARE PROVIDING SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO REGIONAL PROBLEMS IN THE AMERICAS AND AFRICA, RESPECTIVELY. WE SHOULD HAVE A SIMILAR MECHANISM FOR OUR PART OF THE WORLD.
WE ARE BEING CALLED UPON TO ACCELERATE OUR BROAD-BASED AND MULTIPLE LINKAGES BECAUSE THE END OF THE COLD WAR HAS CHANGED THE GLOBAL SECURITY CONFIGURATION. THE IMMEDIATE SECURITY PROBLEMS NO LONGER ARISE FROM STRONG STATES, BUT FROM THE
INTERNAL BREAKDOWN OF THE WEAK STATES, OR THOSE THAT ARE FAILING OR HAVE ALREADY FAILED. THESE ARE THE TERRITORIES WHERE SYSTEMIC BREAKDOWN HAS OCCURRED, WHERE CITIZENS HAVE TO CONTEND WITH COMMUNAL STRIFE, CRIMINALITY, CIVIL WAR, MASS STARVATION, AND IN SOME CASES, WITH MASS DESTRUCTION OF HUMAN LIVES.
WHERE WE WOULD UPHOLD NON-INTERFERENCE IN DOMESTIC AFFAIRS AS A CARDINAL PRINCIPLE OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, WE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO REMAIN INDIFFERENT BYSTANDERS WHEN WE ARE REAL-TIME WITNESSES TO GENOCIDE OR TO OTHER ABUSE BY A STATE OF THE RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF ITS POPULATION, OR TO HUMAN CATASTROPHIES IN FAILED STATES.OUR COMMON HUMANITY ENTAILS US TO TAKE ACTION AS AN INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.
ASIDE FROM HUMANITARIAN CONSIDERATIONS, WE KNOW THE FACT THAT THE DISORDER IN FAILED STATES CAN BE EXPLOITED BY OTHER STATES OR NON-STATE ACTORS. FOR INSTANCE, AFGHANISTAN HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT FAILED STATES CAN BECOME A BASE OF OPERATIONS FOR TERRORISTS. ELSEWHERE, FAILED STATES AS A “NO MAN’S LAND” CAN BECOME A SAFE HAVEN FOR CRIMINALS OR THE DUMPING GROUNDS OF TOXIC WASTE OR OTHER HARMFUL MATERIALS. FOR THESE REASONS, THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN RESCUING FAILED STATES. THE IMPORTANT POLICY QUESTIONS ARE BY WHOM AND WITH WHAT DEGREE OF COMMITMENT.
THE UNITED NATIONS IS UNIVERSALLY REGARDED AS HAVING THE AUTHORITY FOR CONCERTED ACTION IN FAILED STATES. TO THE REASSURANCE OF THE WORLD, IT HAS ACTED SEVERAL TIMES IN THIS CAPACITY.
RECENTLY, HOWEVER, THE U.N. HAS BEGUN DELEGATING SOME STAGES OF INTERVENTION TO WHAT WE CALL “COALITIONS OF THE WILLING”. THIS IS NOW THE PREFERRED MECHANISM FOR DEALING WITH FAILED STATES. IT NOT ONLY PREVENTS UNILATERAL ACTIONS BY SINGLE ACTORS, BUT IT ALSO HELPS GUARANTEE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF POLICY IMPLEMENTATION.
LET ME GIVE EXAMPLES OF HOW COALITIONS OF THE WILLING HAVE HELPED. IN OUR PART OF THE WORLD, CAMBODIA AND EAST TIMOR ARE EXAMPLES OF HOW THE CONCERTED EFFORTS OF INTERESTED PARTIES HAVE HELPED ENSURE REGIONAL STABILITY. AND I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS OR ASEAN WAS VERY ACTIVE IN NURSING CAMBODIA BACK TO HEALTH IN THE EARLY 1990s.
AS FOR EAST TIMOR, WHICH WILL INAUGURATE ITS INDEPENDENCE TODAY, JAPAN AND THE PHILIPPINES ARE COOPERATING TO ENSURE THAT EAST TIMOR WILL HAVE STRONGER STATE INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE JAPAN-PHILIPPINES PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH IS A FORM OF SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION. THIS WAS SIGNED IN MANILA LAST JANUARY 9th. JAPAN, THROUGH JICA, HAS BEEN PROMOTING SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION WHERE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHICH HAVE SHOWN EXPERTISE IN CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT AREAS ARE ASSISTED IN EXTENDING TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW TO LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES SUCH AS THROUGH THIRD PARTY EXPERT PROGRAMS. JAPAN ALSO HAS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS WITH SINGAPORE AND THAILAND. THIS ARRANGEMENT -- SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION -- INVOLVES A DONOR COUNTRY OR AGENCY, AND THAT IS USUALLY JAPAN. BUT THE U.N., THROUGH THE UNDP, IS ALSO ACTIVE IN PROMOTING THIS TYPE OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
THE CHALLENGES OF THE 21st CENTURY ARE DAUNTING. TODAY, MORE THAN EVER, I BELIEVE, AS DID THE YOUNG REFORMERS OF THE MEIJI PERIOD DURING JAPAN’S RAPID MODERNIZATION, THAT A NATION WILL STAND OR FALL ON HOW WELL IT COULD TRAIN AND EDUCATE ITS PEOPLE.
I CONGRATULATE WASEDA FOR ITS CONTRIBUTIONS TO JAPAN’S GREATNESS. AND I THANK WASEDA FOR GIVING ME THIS DOCTORATE IN LAW. BECAUSE NOW HAVING EARNED A DOCTORATE IN LAW FROM THE GREAT WASEDA UNIVERSITY, I FIND IT NOW MY DUTY TO STUDY MORE NOT ONLY ABOUT ECONOMICS BUT ALSO ABOUT INTERNATIONAL NORMS AND RULES ESPECIALLY IN THE AREAS THAT I TALKED ABOUT -- TRADE, THE ENVIRONMENT AND SECURITY. AND I HOPE THAT IF ALL OF US WILL DO THIS KIND OF STUDY, ALL THE FACULTY, ALL THE STUDENTS OF WASEDA, THEN WASEDA’S PRINCIPLES AND TEACHINGS WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO PEACE AND PROSPERITY AS IT HAS CONTRIBUTED IN THE PAST. IT WILL CONTRIBUTE ONCE AGAIN TO PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN THE 21st CENTURY.
THANK YOU.
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH ABIKO SAN.
OTHER OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS CLUB OF JAPAN; MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE DELEGATION; PHILIPPINE JOURNALISTS AND CORRESPONDENTS PRESENT; DISTINGUISHED GUESTS; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
I AM VERY HONORED TO BE HERE. THIS IS AN ESTEEMED CLUB OF FOREIGN JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA PRACTITIONERS IN JAPAN. HAVING OPENED ITS DOORS TO JOURNALISTS IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THE FCCJ ENJOYS PREEMINENCE AS AN INSTITUTION OF AUTHORITY IN THE ANALYSES AND REPORTING OF JAPAN'S POST-WAR AND MODERN HISTORY. IT HAS BEEN A REAL-TIME WITNESS TO JAPAN'S TRANSFORMATION. AND ALSO MANY OF YOU WHO ARE BASED HERE ARE ALSO COVERING THE PHILIPPINE BEAT.
A NEW REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT HAS EMERGED IN EAST ASIA, CHARACTERIZED BY GROWING POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS AMONG ITS STATES, BOTH AT THE BILATERAL AND REGIONAL PLANES.
THE 1997 ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS AWAKENED COUNTRIES IN EAST ASIA TO THEIR ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL INTERDEPENDENCE, COMPELLING THEM TO COORDINATE CLOSELY THEIR MONETARY AND FINANCIAL POLICIES. AS A RESULT, THERE HAS BEEN GREATER COMMITMENT TO IDENTIFY NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF ASEAN. THE ASEAN-CHINA, JAPAN AND REPUBLIC OF KOREA DIALOGUE HAS ALSO BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO AN EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENT FOR ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL COOPERATION. REGIONAL INTEGRATION IS TAKING PLACE, AND A SENSE OF EAST ASIAN REGIONALISM IS EVOLVING.
THE PHILIPPINES WELCOMES THIS TREND. I BELIEVE OUR REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION WILL BRING US NOT ONLY MORE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, BUT ALSO GREATER POLITICAL STABILITY.
CENTRAL TO THIS FUTURE IS JAPAN. WE ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT JAPAN. AS THE LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE REGION, JAPAN HAS LED EAST ASIA'S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE 20th CENTURY. AND TODAY, JAPAN IS EMBARKING ON MAJOR INDUSTRIAL REFORMS AND FISCAL RESTRUCTURING. THE SUCCESS OF JAPAN'S EFFORTS IN REVIVING ITS ECONOMY IS CRITICAL TO THE REGIONAL AND GLOBAL ECONOMY OF THE 21st CENTURY. AND MAY I SAY THAT I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF JAPAN.
THE PHILIPPINES IS CONFIDENT IN THE ABILITY OF JAPAN TO UNDERTAKE REFORMS. I HOLD THE VIEW THAT JAPAN WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE REGION'S ECONOMIC LEADER, BECAUSE OF ITS TECHNOLOGICAL AND FINANCIAL CAPITAL. JAPAN IS FAR AHEAD OF OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION. I AM INFORMED THAT THE WORLD'S FASTEST COMPUTER HAS BEEN MADE OPERATIONAL RECENTLY BY JAPAN, THIS IS CLEAR PROOF OF A SHARP COMPETITIVE EDGE IN TECHNOLOGY.
WE, TOO, IN THE PHILIPPINES, ARE ENGAGED IN REFORMS. WHEN I TOOK OVER AS PRESIDENT IN JANUARY 2001, THE STATE OF PUBLIC FINANCES WAS MOST PRECARIOUS.
MY NEW GOVERNMENT HAD TO ACT -- QUICKLY -- BEFORE THE WORSENING EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT AGGRAVATED FURTHER OUR DOMESTIC SITUATION. MY GOVERNMENT INSTITUTED A BUDGET DEFICIT-REDUCTION PROGRAM.
PHILIPPINE MONETARY POLICY, MEANWHILE, FOCUSED ON ACHIEVING AND MAINTAINING PRICE STABILITY. EFFORTS WERE MADE TO STRENGTHEN THE BANKING SYSTEM, WHICH HAD ACCUMULATED BURDENSOME, THOUGH RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED TO OTHERS IN THE REGION, NON-PERFORMING LOANS. FOR THE EQUITY MARKET, STRONGER REGULATIONS AGAINST MANIPULATION AND INSIDER TRADING WERE PUT IN PLACE.
OUR MACROECONOMIC POLICIES FOR STABLE GROWTH HAVE BEEN ACCOMPANIED BY LONG-TERM POLICIES FOR ECONOMIC RESTRUCTURING. WE OPENED MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO BE THE PRIMARY ENGINE OF GROWTH. THE ELECTRIC POWER INDUSTRY REFORM ACT, BOTTLED UP IN CONGRESS FOR NINE YEARS, WAS FINALLY ENACTED INTO LAW. THIS PAVES THE WAY FOR THE COMPLETE PRIVATIZATION OF POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION IN THE COUNTRY.
WE ALSO PASSED AN ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING ACT TO ALLEVIATE UNCERTAINTIES ATTENDANT TO FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION.
THE MARKET WELCOMED THESE POLICIES. INFLATION DECLINED FROM 7.9 PERCENT IN JANUARY OF 2001 TO 3.4 PERCENT IN FEBRUARY OF 2002. INTEREST RATES EASED AND THE BELLWETHER TREASURY BILL RATE REACHED ITS LOWEST LEVEL ON RECORD. THIS HAS BEEN A BOON TO BUSINESSES; AS IT HAS ALSO REINFORCED THE GOVERNMENT'S DEFICIT REDUCTION PROGRAM.
DESPITE THE DECLINE IN EXPORTS, OCCASIONED BY THE WORLD'S SLOWDOWN AND THE POST SEPTEMBER 11 DECLINE, THE FOREIGN RESERVE ASSET POSITION OF THE CENTRAL BANK HAS BEEN MANAGEABLE. GROSS INTERNATIONAL RESERVES NOW STAND AT A RECORD HIGH ADEQUATE TO ENABLE US TO SERVICE SHORT-TERM OBLIGATIONS, AS WELL AS ABOUT FIVE MONTHS OF IMPORTS. THE PESO-DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE HAS STABILIZED TO BELOW 50 PESOS TO ONE U.S. DOLLAR.
RECOGNIZING THE TURNAROUND IN PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE, THE CREDIT AGENCIES HAVE UPGRADED THE COUNTRY'S SOVEREIGN DEBT RATING OUTLOOK FROM NEGATIVE TO STABLE. THE PHILIPPINES SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED SEVERAL GLOBAL BOND OFFERINGS; AND THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE LARGEST PUBLIC PENSION FUND IN THE UNITED STATES, WHICH MADE A VERY MUCH PUBLICIZED RETREAT FROM ASEAN MARKETS, IS BACK NOW IN THE PHILIPPINE MARKET.
THE CREDITABLE PERFORMANCE ACHIEVED DURING THE DIFFICULT YEAR OF 2001 PROVIDES GROUND FOR OPTIMISM ABOUT OUR ECONOMIC PROSPECTS IN 2002 AND BEYOND. RISING BUSINESS AND CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IS INVIGORATING DOMESTIC DEMAND. OUR EXPORTS WENT DOWN BY 40 PERCENT LAST YEAR AND YET OUR GNP GREW BY 3.7 PERCENT BECAUSE OF CONSUMER SPENDING AND, MORE THAN THAT, BECAUSE OF GROSS DOMESTIC CAPITAL FORMATION. ALONG WITH THE EXPECTED ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, THIS SETS THE STAGE FOR FURTHER EXPANSION IN THE PHILIPPINE ECONOMY.
MY GOVERNMENT PROJECTS REAL
GDP TO GROW FROM FOUR TO 4.5 PERCENT IN 2002. WE SHALL STRIVE HARD
TO REALIZE THIS TARGET AND TO IMPROVE ON IT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
OUR GROWTH PROSPECTS HINGE MUCH ON MAINTAINING A DISCIPLINED MACROECONOMIC PROGRAM THAT LEADS TO GREATER STABILITY AND INVESTMENT. WE ARE VIGOROUSLY PURSUING OUR DEFICIT-REDUCTION PROGRAM. AT THE SAME TIME, FISCAL POLICY WILL PROTECT AND, IN WELL-IDENTIFIED CASES INCREASE SPENDING FOR AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION, EDUCATION AND HEALTH, SOCIALIZED HOUSING, INFRASTRUCTURE, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND TOURISM.
THE DEFICIT-REDUCTION PROGRAM WILL SUSTAIN THE DOWNTREND IN INTEREST RATES. THIS WILL PROPEL THE RECOVERY OF INDUSTRY. THE REVIVAL OF THE BANKING INDUSTRY IS BEING ADDRESSED THROUGH THE SPECIAL PURPOSE ASSET VEHICLE ACT AND RELATED BILLS IN CONGRESS. THESE LAWS AIM TO AID THE BANKING SECTOR UNLOAD ITS NON-PERFORMING LOANS -- AGAIN MAY I SAY THEY ARE SMALLER THAN AROUND THE REGION -- AND STRENGTHEN THE REGULATORY AND SUPERVISORY FUNCTIONS OF THE CENTRAL BANK AND THE PHILIPPINE DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION.
THE ROAD TO SUSTAINED GROWTH OVER THE MEDIUM-TERM WILL BE SECURED BY EFFORTS TO IMPROVE TOTAL PRODUCTIVITY. WE ARE STARTING WITH AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION.
AND TO SHARPEN COMPETITIVENESS, WE ARE COMMITTED TO DEREGULATION, PRIVATIZATION, LIBERALIZATION. WE ARE ON TRACK IN MEETING OUR LIBERALIZATION AND TARIFF REDUCTION TARGETS; PARTICULARLY THOSE FORGED UNDER THE ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA, THE ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION.
MY ADMINISTRATION IS CONVINCED THAT THE BEST INVESTMENT FOR SUSTAINED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IS GOOD GOVERNANCE. WE KNOW WE CAN WIN OUR BATTLE AGAINST POVERTY MORE EFFECTIVELY AND SPEEDILY IF WE ADHERE TO WHAT I CALL THE THREE PILLARS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE: FIRST, A SOUND MORAL FOUNDATION TO GUIDE OUR LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS; SECOND, A PHILOSOPHY OF TRANSPARENCY IN ALL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS; THIRD, AN ETHIC OF EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION THROUGHOUT THE BUREAUCRACY.
WE KNOW, TOO, THAT OUR EFFORTS REQUIRE THE PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT OF ALL SECTORS OF OUR SOCIETY. BUT OUR ACTIONS ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE NATIONAL LEVEL; WE HAVE ALSO PURSUED OUR ECONOMIC REFORMS WITHIN ASEAN.
THESE EFFORTS, IF SUCCESSFUL, WILL FACILITATE THE CONCLUSION OF A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITH CHINA AND AN ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WITH JAPAN.
IN RECENT MONTHS, JAPAN DEMONSTRATED AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH IN ACCELERATING INTEGRATION IN EAST ASIA THROUGH ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS, OR E.P.A., WITH ASEAN COUNTRIES. THIS YEAR, JAPAN CONCLUDED ITS FIRST E.P.A. WITH SINGAPORE. WE FIND THE E.P.A. AN ATTRACTIVE INITIATIVE THAT COULD INVOLVE NOT A JUST TRADE AGREEMENT, BUT ALSO OTHER SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY LIKE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, TOURISM, HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION. WE, IN THE PHILIPPINES, ARE INTERESTED IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JAPAN-PHILIPPINES STUDY GROUP ON A POSSIBLE E.P.A.
THERE IS ALSO A GREATER NEED TO FOCUS ON REGIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY IN EAST ASIA, ESPECIALLY AFTER THE 11th OF SEPTEMBER TERROR EVENT. THIS TRAGIC EVENT REMINDED US OF OUR COLLECTIVE VULNERABILITY.
COUNTERING TERRORISM IS INDISPENSABLE
FOR REGIONAL STABILITY. THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN WERE ONE OF THE
FIRST COUNTRIES -- PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI AND I TOGETHER, ON SEPTEMBER
12th BECAUSE I WAS HERE IN TOKYO -- CONDEMNED THE TERROR ATTACKS AND PLEDGED
OUR FIRM SUPPORT TO THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION TO COMBAT TERRORISM.
I NOTE JAPAN'S SWIFT PASSAGE OF THE SPECIAL LAW ON ANTI-TERRORISM AND THE AMENDMENTS TO THE SELF-DEFENSE FORCES LAW TO ENABLE JAPAN TO PROCEED WITH HER COMMITMENT TO THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION. I BELIEVE THAT WITH THESE CHANGES IN JAPAN'S DOMESTIC LAWS, JAPAN WILL BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE MORE EFFECTIVELY TO EAST ASIA'S REGIONAL SECURITY. A GOOD EXAMPLE IS JAPAN'S PEACEKEEPING TEAM, RECENTLY FIELDED TO EAST TIMOR UNDER THE U.N. FLAG.
MY COUNTRY HAS ALSO BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM. PHILIPPINE COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE VISITING FORCES AGREEMENT HAS IMPROVED PHILIPPINE DEFENSE CAPABILITIES. AT THE SAME TIME, IT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO ENHANCED MUTUAL OPERABILITY BETWEEN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THAT OF THE UNITED STATES. THESE SECURITY GAINS HAVE REINVIGORATED PHILIPPINE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES.
DURING MY VISIT TO MALAYSIA EARLY THIS MONTH, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA AND THE PHILIPPINES SIGNED A TRILATERAL ANTI-TERRORISM AGREEMENT. THE NEXT DAY, DURING MY VISIT TO BANGKOK, THAILAND EXPRESSED ITS WILLINGNESS TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT AS WELL.
WE DID THIS IN THE BELIEF THAT SECURITY HAS TWO FACETS: ONE IS PHYSICAL SECURITY AND THE OTHER IS HUMAN SECURITY.
HUMAN SECURITY RELATES TO BASIC NEEDS LIKE SHELTER, FOOD, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO HOPE FOR THE FUTURE TEND TO VENT THEIR FRUSTRATIONS ON ESTABLISHED INSTITUTIONS AND SOCIETIES.
JAPAN'S O.D.A. PROGRAM HAS BEEN TARGETED TO MEET THE HUMAN SECURITY NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE. IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER JAPANESE O.D.A. AS A NECESSARY INSTRUMENT TO ELIMINATE POVERTY, AND THUS DIMINISH THE BREEDING GROUNDS FOR POTENTIAL TERRORISTS.
ON THIS OCCASION, I WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS OUR DEEP APPRECIATION FOR JAPAN'S CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES.
WE LOOK TO THE DEVELOPED WORLD NOT FOR DOLE-OUTS, BUT FOR EQUITABLE COOPERATION. I LOOK TO JAPAN TO LEAD A DIALOGUE THAT CAN IDENTIFY THE PRINCIPAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUES OF OUR REGION IN THE 21st CENTURY. PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI'S INITIATIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT IN EAST ASIA CONFERENCE THIS YEAR, MAY BE THE APPROPRIATE VENUE TO CONSIDER THESE ISSUES.
FINALLY, LET ME REITERATE OUR COMMITMENT TO WORK WITH JAPAN AND OTHER COUNTRIES TO ENSURE A MORE PROSPEROUS AND PEACEFUL EAST ASIA FOR THE 21st CENTURY.
THANK YOU.
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD TO GREET MY COLLEAGUE FROM LAOS, PRIME MINISTER VORACHITH, WHO WAS MY RECENT VISITOR IN MANILA; MR. TSURUTA, PRESIDENT OF NIKKEI. THANK YOU FOR INVITING ME HERE; MR. SUGITA, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT; PARTICIPANTS OF THE 8th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE FUTURE OF ASIA; MEMBERS OF THE PHILIPPINE DELEGATION; DISTINGUISHED GUESTS; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK NIHON KEIZAI SHIMBUN FOR INVITING ME TO THIS CONFERENCE, WHICH IS A WELLSPRING OF LEADERSHIP, COMPETENCE AND COMMITMENT. THE INSIGHTS WE SHALL GAIN WILL SERVE WELL OUR RESPECTIVE NATIONS AND PEOPLES, AS WELL AS OUR COLLECTIVE INTERESTS.
THE YEAR 2001 MAY BE A YEAR MANY COUNTRIES WOULD WANT TO FORGET. WITH THE SHARP CONTRACTION OF THE GLOBAL ICT INDUSTRY, MANY ECONOMIES UNDERWENT RECESSION OR STAGNATION. THEN, JUST AS THE PROSPECTS FOR GLOBAL RECOVERY WERE IMPROVING, THE SEPTEMBER 11 TERRORIST ATTACKS CAME AND CHANGED THE WORLD ALTOGETHER.
ON TOP OF THESE EXTERNAL SHOCKS, WE, IN THE PHILIPPINES HAD TO CONTEND WITH INTERNAL PROBLEMS.
WHEN I ASSUMED OFFICE IN JANUARY 2001, BUSINESS CONFIDENCE WAS AT ITS LOWEST EBB. THE POLITICAL SCANDAL INVOLVING MY PREDECESSOR HAD INDUCED CAPITAL FLIGHT, RAISING UP INTEREST RATES AND THE INFLATION RATE AND SINKING THE VALUE OF THE PESO TO HISTORIC LOWS. UPON ASSUMING THE PRESIDENCY, MY URGENT TASK WAS THE RESTORATION OF THE COUNTRY’S FINANCIAL HEALTH.
I TOLD THE FILIPINO PEOPLE THAT WE MUST BE BOLD IN OUR NATIONAL AMBITIONS SO THAT OUR CHALLENGE MUST BE THAT WITHIN THIS DECADE, WE WILL WIN THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY.
I TOLD OUR POLICYMAKERS THAT TO SUCCEED, OUR NATIONAL AGENDA MUST REVOLVE AROUND FOUR COMPONENTS: FIRST, AN ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY OF FREE ENTERPRISE APPROPRIATE TO THE 21st CENTURY; SECOND, A MODERNIZED AGRICULTURAL SECTOR FOUNDED ON SOCIAL EQUITY; THIRD, A SOCIAL BIAS TOWARD THE DISADVANTAGED TO BALANCE OUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN; AND FOURTH, TO RAISE THE STANDARDS OF MORALITY IN GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY.
MY ECONOMIC TEAM -- SOME OF WHOM ARE HERE WITH US TODAY -- INITIATED A BUDGET DEFICIT REDUCTION PROGRAM IN ORDER TO PREVENT GOVERNMENT FROM CROWDING OUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR INVESTMENT FUNDS.ON THE MONETARY SIDE, MY ADMINISTRATION FOCUSED ON PRICE STABILITY AS THE MAIN OBJECTIVE.
THE RESULTS OF THESE POLICIES HAVE BEEN GRATIFYING.
IN A BLEAK GLOBAL LANDSCAPE, OUR ECONOMY REGISTERED A REAL GNP GROWTH RATE OF 3.7 PERCENT.
INFLATION AND INTEREST RATES FELL, REACHING HISTORIC LOWS THIS TIME.
THE SPREADS OF THE COUNTRY’S SOVEREIGN ISSUANCES HAVE BECOME NARROWER, MAKING FUTURE GOVERNMENT BORROWINGS CHEAPER.
THE MAJOR CREDIT RATING AGENCIES HAVE UPGRADED OUR COUNTRY’S CREDIT RATING OUTLOOK FROM NEGATIVE TO STABLE.
THE PESO-DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE HAS STABILIZED DESPITE THE DECLINE IN EXPORTS DUE TO THE SLOWDOWN OF OUR MAJOR MARKETS. IN FACT, GROSS INTERNATIONAL RESERVES NOW STAND AT AN ALL TIME HIGH.
THE EXPLANATION FOR OUR ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE IS THE HARD WORK OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE, THE GOOD POLICIES AND THE ASSISTANCE OF FRIENDLY COUNTRIES SUCH AS JAPAN.
PRIVATE ANALYSTS AND MULTILATERAL AGENCIES, SUCH AS THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND, ATTEST THAT THE PHILIPPINES HAS THE STRENGTH AND CAPACITY TO BUILD ON OUR ACHIEVEMENTS.
CENTRAL TO OUR FUTURE IS JAPAN. AS THE LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE REGION, JAPAN LED EAST ASIA’S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE 20th CENTURY. AS THE PHILIPPINES’ LARGEST SOURCE OF OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE, JAPAN ENABLED THE PHILIPPINES’ RAPID RECOVERY DURING THIS PAST DIFFICULT YEAR.
TODAY, JAPAN IS EMBARKING ON MAJOR INDUSTRIAL REFORMS AND FISCAL RESTRUCTURING. THE SUCCESS OF JAPAN’S EFFORTS IN REVIVING ITS ECONOMY IS CRUCIAL TO THE REGIONAL AND GLOBAL ECONOMY OF THE 21st CENTURY. I PRAISE JAPAN FOR ITS CONTINUING ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP AND I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN JAPAN’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
THE PHILIPPINES IS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT JAPAN. I HOLD THE VIEW THAT JAPAN WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE REGION’S ECONOMIC LEADER BECAUSE OF ITS TECHNOLOGICAL AND FINANCIAL CAPITAL. JAPAN IS FAR AHEAD OF OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION.I AM INFORMED THAT THE WORLD’S FASTEST COMPUTER HAS BEEN MADE OPERATIONAL BY JAPAN. THIS IS CLEAR PROOF OF A SHARP COMPETITIVE EDGE IN TECHNOLOGY.
THE MACRO-ECONOMIC POLICIES ADOPTED BY MY GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES POSITIONED US WELL IN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE EXPECTED RECOVERY OF JAPAN AND THE U.S. AND OTHER POSITIVE EXTERNAL DEVELOPMENTS, FOREMOST OF WHICH IS THE RESULTING REBOUND IN EXPORTS AND INVESTMENTS. THEIR EXPECTED REBOUND WILL HOPEFULLY ACCELERATE OUR GDP GROWTH.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO FOSTER DEVELOPMENT TO UPLIFT THE LIVES OF THE POOR IN THE PHILIPPINES. WE ARE STRENGTHENING THE PILLARS OF OUR HOUSE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THE GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT.
THE PHILIPPINES IS FORTUNATE TO BE AT THE CENTER OF THE ACTION BECAUSE EAST ASIA IS PROJECTED TO BE THE HUB OF THE HIGHEST GROWTH IN THE WORLD IN THIS CENTURY.
IN THE MAIN, I BELIEVE, JAPANESE
ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP, COUPLED WITH CHINA’S EMERGING MARKET AND A REVIVED
U.S. ECONOMY WILL BE THE ENGINES OF GROWTH FOR OUR REGION.
LET ME NOW TALK ABOUT CHINA’S EMERGING MARKET. WE, IN ASEAN, WELCOMED CHINA’S ACCESSION TO THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION. THIS ACCESSION INDICATED CHINA’S DETERMINATION TO PLAY BY GLOBAL TRADING RULES AND ADDED ANOTHER VENUE WHERE ASEAN CAN ENGAGE WITH CHINA CONSTRUCTIVELY.
THERE ARE CONCERNS THAT CHINA WOULD BE A FORMIDABLE COMPETITOR FOR ASEAN. BUT LET ME POINT OUT THAT ASEAN EXPORTERS HAVE BEEN COMPETING WITH CHINA IN MAJOR MARKETS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS NOW EVER SINCE CHINA OBTAINED MOST-FAVORED STATUS FROM THE U.S. IN 1980.
IN THIS SENSE, CHINA’S ENTRY INTO THE WTO IS TO ASEAN’s ADVANTAGE BECAUSE CHINA HAS COME INTO THE AMBIT OF UNIVERSAL NORMS IN EXCHANGE FOR ITS MOST-FAVORED NATION STATUS.
CHINA’S EMERGENCE AS A MARKET ECONOMY HAS NOT BEEN A ZERO-SUM COMPETITION WITH ASEAN. WE MAY HAVE SIMILAR EXPORT POLICIES AND WE BOTH EXPERIENCED AN INCREASE IN COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGE IN LABOR-INTENSIVE MANUFACTURED EXPORTS. HOWEVER, COMPLEMENTARITIES WITHIN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES ALONG HORIZONTAL DIVISIONS OF LABOR HAVE ENABLED ASEAN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NICHE MARKETS AND DESIGN DIFFERENTIATION.
THIS IS THE REASON WHY ASEAN IS ABLE TO TRADE WITH CHINA. ASEAN-CHINA TRADE TOTALLED 39.5 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS IN THE YEAR 2000. A CASE IN POINT, IS THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY OF THE PHILIPPINES. DEMAND FOR THIS COMPONENT IN CHINA HAS LED TO A HUNDREDFOLD INCREASE FROM 1995 TO 2001.
INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURES NOW ACCOUNT FOR 62 PERCENT OF PHILIPPINE EXPORTS TO CHINA. AND ELECTRONICS SUCH AS SEMICONDUCTORS AND OTHER COMPONENTS ACCOUNT FOR 90 PERCENT OF THIS TYPE OF EXPORTS.
IN THE SHORT-TERM, CHINA MAY ADD TO COMPETITIVE PRESSURES ON ASEAN ECONOMIES. HOWEVER, IN THE LONG RUN, CHINA’S MARKET WOULD FUNCTION AS A MAGNET FOR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN THE REGION. THE AGENDA FOR ASEAN FIRMS IS HOW TO REMAIN EFFICIENT AND MARKET SAVVY.
MARKET EFFICIENCY IS THE FUNDAMENTAL LOGIC THAT FUELS ASEAN EFFORTS TO ACCELERATE AND EXPAND THE ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA OR AFTA. STARTING THIS YEAR, THE SIX ORIGINAL SIGNATORIES OF AFTA HAVE REACHED ZERO TO 5 PERCENT TARIFFS IN THEIR TRADE AMONG THEMSELVES AND ARE STEADILY HARMONIZING PRODUCT STANDARDS. ASEAN SUBSCRIBES TO THE BELIEF THAT HEALTHY COMPETITION LEADS TO BETTER ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES.
A FREE TRADE AREA BETWEEN ASEAN AND CHINA WOULD UPGRADE MARKET EFFICIENCIES. IT WOULD ALSO HAVE AN EFFECT ON INVESTMENT FLOWS WHICH ARE NOW HEAVILY IN CHINA’S FAVOR. THE STEEP INCREASE IN FOREIGN-DIRECT INVESTMENTS INTO CHINA CANNOT BE EXPLAINED BY CHEAP LABOR OR INCENTIVES ALONE, BECAUSE ASEAN IS ALSO COMPETITIVE IN THESE AREAS.
THE RUSH INTO CHINA IS MORE
THAN ANYTHING ELSE, A RACE TO SECURE A FOOTHOLD IN ITS HUGE CONSUMER MARKET.
HERE, THEN, IS ANOTHER INCENTIVE FOR CREATING AN ASEAN-CHINA FREE TRADE
AREA. LARGE INTEGRATED MARKETS, NOT SMALL FRAGMENTED ONES ARE WHAT
ATTRACT INVESTORS. INTEGRATING MARKETS MAKE SENSE. ASEAN’S
POPULATION IS 500 MILLION AS AGAINST CHINA’S 1.3 BILLION. BUT ASEAN’s
GDP IS ALMOST THE SAME SIZE AS CHINA’S. COMBINING THEM WOULD GIVE
BIRTH TO A MARKET OF 1.8 BILLION CONSUMERS OR ALMOST ONE-THIRD OF HUMANITY.
THE WIDE VARIETY OF TRADITIONAL STRENGTHS, TALENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OF THE TWO AREAS WOULD SHAPE THE CONTOURS OF THIS GIANT CONSUMER MARKET. AS IT EVOLVES, INVESTMENT FLOWS WOULD BE REDISTRIBUTED IN THE FUTURE.
THE JAPANESE CONSULTANT KENICHI OHMAE HAS POINTED OUT THAT THE CHINA EXPORTING TO JAPAN IS NOT ACTUALLY MADE UP OF CHINESE FIRMS BUT IS PART OF A PRODUCTION SYSTEM CONCEIVED IN JAPAN THAT SIMPLY USES CHINESE LAND AND LABOR. SINCE CHINA BY ITSELF WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PENETRATE THE JAPANESE MARKET, HE SAID, IT IS BASICALLY STILL A CASE OF JAPAN COMPETING WITH JAPAN.
TO BUILD AN AFTA, A NUMBER OF ASEAN MEMBER COUNTRIES HAVE SUGGESTED MULTIPLYING THE JAPAN-SINGAPORE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OR EPA. THIS EPA PROMOTES TRADE BUT ALSO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, TOURISM, HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER IMPORTANT SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY.
IF REPLICATED ELSEWHERE IN ASEAN, MULTIPLE EPAs WOULD ENABLE JAPAN TO AMPLIFY ITS COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES IN TECHNOLOGY ESPECIALLY IN ICT, BIOTECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY USING THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES OF ASEAN.
REGIONAL AND BILATERAL TRADE AGREEMENTS, AS LONG AS THESE REMAIN AS OPEN ARRANGEMENTS, COMPLEMENT AND STRENGTHEN THE MULTILATERAL SYSTEM OF THE WTO.
THE PHILIPPINES SUPPORTS THE NEW DOHA ROUND UNDER THE WTO, WHICH IS MEANT TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE PRINCIPLE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION AND THEREBY ENSURE AN OPEN GLOBAL TRADING SYSTEM.
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES HAVE DEVOTED THEIR COLLECTIVE ENERGIES TO ENSURE THAT THE DOHA ROUND OF THE WTO WOULD BE A TRULY DEVELOPMENTAL ROUND AND THAT IT WOULD BRING ABOUT A MORE EQUITABLE OUTCOME. ECONOMIES THAT HAVE ADOPTED MARKET-DRIVEN POLICIES SHOULD BE REWARDED BY MORE OPEN MARKETS ESPECIALLY FOR PRODUCTS THAT ARE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO US.
REGIONAL AND BILATERAL TRADE AREAS ARE HUBS OF OPEN REGIONALISM. THE TASK BEFORE US IS HOW TO EXPAND OUR COOPERATION TO OTHER AREAS TO CREATE INTERLOCKING LINKAGES. ASEAN SHOULD FOSTER MULTIPLE LINKAGES IN SUCH AREAS AS FINANCE, ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, AND PEACE AND SECURITY IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD.
AS THE 1997 ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS SHOWED, THE LANDSCAPE OF GLOBALIZATION IS LITTERED WITH QUICKSAND. GLOBAL CAPITAL IS SUSPECT. TO SHELTER OURSELVES FROM DESTABILIZING FLAWS, WE HAVE SET UP A NETWORK OF BILATERAL SWAP ARRANGEMENTS UNDER THE CHIANG MAI INITIATIVE WITHIN THE ASEAN PLUS THREE FRAMEWORK. WE WELCOME THE ADDITIONAL PROTECTION OFFERED RECENTLY BY THE ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE CENTRAL BANKS OF CHINA AND JAPAN.
SINCE CHINA AND JAPAN HAVE THE LARGEST FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES IN THE WORLD, THIS AGREEMENT FORTIFIES THE REGION’S FIREWALL AGAINST SPECULATIVE ATTACKS. THE NETWORK OF CURRENCY SWAP ARRANGEMENT IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD MUCH DEEPER FINANCIAL AND MONETARY COOPERATION IN EAST ASIA. IN THE FUTURE, WE CAN FURTHER EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF HAVING A COMMON BASKET OF CURRENCIES.
ASIDE FROM FINANCE, THE TIME IS RIPE FOR COOPERATION IN THE ENERGY SECTOR. THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF OUR ECONOMIES WOULD DEPEND ON A STABLE SUPPLY OF ENERGY AT A COMPETITIVE PRICE RELATIVE TO OTHER REGIONS. THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS
DEMONSTRATED, FROM ITS BEGINNINGS AS THE EUROPEAN COAL AND STEEL COMMUNITY, THAT ENERGY CAN BE A CATALYST FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION.
THE REGION CAN, FOR EXAMPLE, EXPLORE COOPERATION IN COMMON STOCKPILES OF OIL, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CONTROL ON OIL PRODUCTS, INTERCONNECTING POWER SYSTEMS AND UTILIZATION OF NATURAL GAS.
ON THE ENVIRONMENT, OUR COOPERATION MUST BE UNDERLINED BY THE ABSENCE OF BORDERS.
CHINA’S COOPERATION IS VITAL IN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.
IN LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR MULTIPLE LINKAGES, EAST ASIA MUST CULTIVATE AN ENVIRONMENT OF PEACE AND SECURITY. SECURITY PROBLEMS NOW RIDE THE TIDE OF GLOBALIZATION. THUS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO PRESENT A UNITED FRONT AGAINST TERRORISM AND INTERNATIONAL CRIME SUCH AS ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN, AND MONEY LAUNDERING. BUT MUCH FARTHER THAN THAT WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT BEYOND PHYSICAL SECURITY, THERE IS THE BROADER CONCEPT OF HUMAN SECURITY WHICH RELATES TO BASIC HUMAN NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD, SHELTER, EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT.
UNLESS, BOTH PHYSICAL AND HUMAN SECURITY ARE EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSED, IMPOVERISHED AND DISILLUSIONED COMMUNITIES WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE RECRUITMENT GROUNDS FOR TERRORISM.
JAPAN’S LEADERSHIP IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF AFGHANISTAN IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE KEEN AWARENESS OF THE PARAMOUNT VALUE OF HUMAN SECURITY.
ASEAN HAS DONE ITS SHARE IN MITIGATING DISPUTES IN THE REGION. IT HAS SEEN TO THE SMOOTH TRANSITION TO POLITICAL STABILITY BY CAMBODIA AND EAST TIMOR, AND ACTS AS THE NEXUS OF THE ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM, A MAJOR VENUE OF CONSTANT DIALOGUE AMONG THE POWERS IN THE ASIA PACIFIC. THIS ARF HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN ENSURING PEACE AND STABILITY IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA.
IN ALL SPHERES OF COOPERATION, FROM CURRENCY SWAP ARRANGEMENTS, TO ENSURING REGIONAL SECURITY, THE ROLE OF JAPAN IS CRUCIAL. IT IS BY ENGAGING IN MULTIPLE LINKAGES WITH THE OTHER ECONOMIES OF ASIA THAT JAPAN CAN GUARANTEE ITS STABILITY AND GROWTH INTO THE FUTURE. AND MAY I SAY ONCE AGAIN, I HAVE FULL FAITH AND CONFIDENCE IN JAPAN’S LEADERSHIP AND IN JAPAN’S ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO, IN 1886, A YOUNG JAPANESE AUTHOR NAMED TOKUTOMI SOHO, WROTE A BOOK TITLED THE FUTURE OF JAPAN. AFTER ANALYZING EUROPEAN GEOPOLITICS IN THE 19th CENTURY, SOHO SAID THAT THE “WORLD OF MIGHT” WOULD BE REPLACED BY THE “WORLD OF WEALTH”, AND HE PREDICTED THAT INTERDEPENDENCE ESPECIALLY THROUGH TRADE WILL BECOME THE PATH TO PEACE.
THE CHALLENGE BEFORE US IN EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA IS HOW TO INTEGRATE OUR MULTIPLE LINKAGES INTO A COMMON VISION FOR THE REST OF THE 21st CENTURY.
ALL COUNTRIES TODAY ASPIRE FOR PACIFIC SOLUTIONS. WE SHARE THE SAME PRAYERS FOR PEACE, GOOD HEALTH, JUSTICE, DIGNITY AND PROSPERITY FOR OUR PEOPLES. AND MOST OF ALL, WE ALL BELIEVE WE CAN ACHIEVE MUCH MORE BY ACTING TOGETHER.
BUILDING PEACE AND ATTAINING PROSPERITY IN EAST ASIA WOULD BE OUR NOBLEST CONTRIBUTION TO THE WORLD.
THANK YOU.
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MR. ONDA; MR. ORASHIMA; MR. FUJIWARA; OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF KEIDANREN; FRIENDS FROM THE JAPANESE BUSINESS COMMUNITY; DISTINGUISHED GUESTS; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
LET ME FIRST EXPRESS MY THANKS TO KEIDANREN, FOR INVITING ME TO SPEAK BEFORE YOUR DISTINGUISHED AND VERY INFLUENTIAL ORGANIZATION. MY THANKS, TOO, TO THE ASEAN-JAPAN CENTER FOR CO-SPONSORING THIS BUSINESS MEETING.
SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PHILIPPINE-JAPAN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS IN 1956, AND SINCE THE VISIT OF THEIR IMPERIAL MAJESTIES TO THE PHILIPPINES AS CROWN PRINCE AND PRINCESS WHEN MY FATHER DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL WAS PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES, JAPAN HAS BECOME A LEADING PARTNER OF THE PHILIPPINES IN TRADE, INVESTMENTS, TOURISM, AND OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE.
AND EVEN TODAY, JAPAN CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR PLAYER IN THE ASIAN REGION. JAPAN'S GDP STILL ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN 60 PERCENT OF THE REGION'S TOTAL. AT THE SAME TIME, ITS LEADERSHIP IN VARIOUS TECHNOLOGICAL FIELDS, INCLUDING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, AND MANY INDUSTRIES SUCH AS CAR MANUFACTURING AND ROBOTICS, IS WIDELY RECOGNIZED.
AS THE LARGEST ECONOMY IN THE REGION, JAPAN LED EAST ASIA'S ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE 20th CENTURY. TODAY, JAPAN IS EMBARKING ON MAJOR INDUSTRIAL REFORMS AND FISCAL RESTRUCTURING.
I PRAISE JAPAN FOR ITS CONTINUING ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP AND I HAVE FULL CONFIDENCE IN JAPAN'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
JAPAN MUST HELP LEAD ASIA TO A NEW LEVEL OF PROMINENCE IN THE WORLD ECONOMY AND WORLD AFFAIRS. THE PHILIPPINES IS CONFIDENT THAT WITH JAPAN LEADING THE WAY, THE REGION WILL FLOURISH.
IN THIS, THE ROLE OF KEIDANREN HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL. KEIDANREN HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN ELEVATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JAPAN'S PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE PHILIPPINES INTO ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE AND STABLE ASPECTS OF OUR BILATERAL RELATIONS.
JAPAN CAN COUNT ON THE PHILIPPINES AS A RENEWED PARTNER IN ASIA TO FIGHT FOR ECONOMIC REFORM, REGIONAL STABILITY, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. WE AIM TO HARNESS THE CREATIVITY, INDUSTRIOUSNESS AND SKILL OF OUR GLOBAL FILIPINO WORKFORCE TO BRING CHANGE TO OUR LIVES IN THE PHILIPPINES AND TO OUR NEIGHBORS IN ASIA.
WE HAVE A PLAN IN THE PHILIPPINES, AND WE ARE ON TRACK IN ACHIEVING ITS GOALS.
SINCE ASSUMING THE PRESIDENCY IN JANUARY OF 2001, I HAVE FIRMLY SET MY SIGHT ON WINNING THE WAR AGAINST POVERTY WITHIN THE DECADE. TO WIN THIS WAR, I HAVE PLEDGED GOOD GOVERNANCE.
GOOD GOVERNANCE MEANS THE FOLLOWING PILLARS:
FIRST, A SOUND MORAL FOUNDATION TO GUIDE OUR LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS.
SECOND, A PHILOSOPHY OF TRANSPARENCY IN ALL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS.
THIRD, AN ETHIC OF EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION THROUGHOUT THE BUREAUCRACY.
WITH THE COMBINATION OF THE RIGHT NATIONAL AGENDA AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH GOOD GOVERNANCE, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE PHILIPPINES CAN WIN THE STRUGGLE OF TODAY AGAINST POVERTY AND, IN TIME, TOMORROW'S STRUGGLE FOR OUR NATION'S PROPER PLACE WITHIN THE 21st CENTURY.
OUR NATIONAL AGENDA HAS FOUR COMPONENTS. THE FIRST PERTAINS TO AN ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY OF FREE ENTERPRISE BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR APPROPRIATE TO THE 21st CENTURY. WE ARE SEEKING TO EMPOWER THE FILIPINO ENTREPRENEUR TO COMPETE FREELY IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, WHEREIN TRANSPARENCY AND A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD ARE NOW INDISPENSABLE, AND INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY IS RAPIDLY ADVANCING.
AT THE CORE OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF FREE ENTERPRISE IS THE CONVICTION THAT GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IS NOT TO CONTROL THE MARKET, BUT TO BUILD A FAVORABLE MARKET ENVIRONMENT -- A SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM WHERE THE HARD WORK, CREATIVITY, AND INITIATIVES OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR WOULD BE REWARDED.
WE HAVE ENGAGED IN STRUCTURAL REFORMS, SUCH AS THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE POWER SECTOR WITH THE ELECTRICITY INDUSTRY REFORM ACT. WE HAVE ALSO PASSED THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING LAW, TO ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF OUR FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.
WE HAVE BEEN INSTITUTING MARKET-FRIENDLY LAWS AND REGULATIONS THAT AIM TO REDUCE THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS, AND TO REMOVE BOTTLENECKS TO INVESTMENT. WE ARE WORKING HARD TO REPLACE OVERLY CONFRONTATIONAL LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS WITH MORE PRO-ACTIVE INSTRUMENTS OF INDUSTRIAL PEACE.
THE SECOND COMPONENT OF OUR NATIONAL AGENDA AGAINST POVERTY IS THE MODERNIZATION OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR POOR.
THE THIRD COMPONENT OF OUR NATIONAL AGENDA IS OUR SOCIAL BIAS TOWARDS THE DISADVANTAGED. MY ECONOMIC MANAGERS AND I BELIEVE THAT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS NECESSARY TO END THE CYCLE OF POVERTY IN OUR COUNTRY.
FINALLY, THE FOURTH COMPONENT OF OUR NATIONAL AGENDA, REQUIRES THAT I PERSONALLY LEAD A CAMPAIGN TO RAISE MORAL STANDARDS IN GOVERNMENT AND SOCIETY.
AS A RESULT OF OUR PLAN'S IMPLEMENTATION THROUGH GOOD GOVERNANCE AFTER ONE YEAR THAT I HAVE BEEN PRESIDENT, OUR ECONOMY POSTED A G.N.P. GROWTH RATE OF 3.7 PERCENT. THIS ACHIEVEMENT WAS ONE OF THE FEW BRIGHT SPOTS FOR 2001, WHICH SAW MANY ASIAN ECONOMIES EXPERIENCE RECESSION OR STAGNATION.
OUR GROWTH WAS SUSTAINED BY SOUND MACROECONOMIC MANAGEMENT.
HIGH ON MY ACTION AGENDA
WAS THE UNDOING OF THE LARGE BUDGET DEFICIT THAT I INHERITED FROM THE PREVIOUS
ADMINISTRATION.
WE HAVE, THEREFORE INSTITUTED A FISCAL POLICY THAT AIMS FOR A BALANCED NATIONAL BUDGET BY THE YEAR 2006. IN LIMITING GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES, HOWEVER, WE DO NOT SCRIMP ON OUR PRINCIPAL GROWTH DRIVERS SUCH AS AGRICULTURAL MODERNIZATION, BASIC EDUCATION AND TRAINING, HEALTH, AND POVERTY REDUCTION.
OUR FISCAL AND MONETARY POLICIES HAVE LED TO A FAVORABLE MARKET RESPONSE. INTEREST RATES HAVE FALLEN, WITH THE RATE OF THE 91-DAY TREASURY BILL WHICH IS THE BAROMETER OF BANKS IN PRICING THEIR LOANS -- REACHING HISTORIC LOWS. AT THE SAME TIME, INFLATION HAS DECLINED, FROM 7.9 PERCENT IN JANUARY 2001 AT THE TIME I TOOK OVER TO 3.6 PERCENT LAST MONTH.
THESE DEVELOPMENTS BEGET MORE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS, SUCH AS A REDUCTION OF INTEREST PAYMENTS IN THE EXPENDITURE PROGRAM OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT, AND THE TIGHTENING OF SPREADS OF THE COUNTRY'S SOVEREIGN ISSUANCES, MAKING FUTURE GOVERNMENT BORROWINGS CHEAPER.
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FOR THE PHILIPPINES, AND IT IS THE MAJOR CREDIT RATING AGENCIES THAT ARE SAYING THIS. THE STEADY AND SURE PERFORMANCE OF THE ECONOMY HAS CONVINCED THEM TO UPGRADE THE COUNTRY'S CREDIT RATING OUTLOOK FROM NEGATIVE TO STABLE. GIVEN THE SHORT SPAN OF TIME MY ADMINISTRATION HAS GOVERNED, THAT IS A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT, FROM WHICH WE SHALL CONTINUE TO BUILD UPON.
OUR EFFORTS TO STABILIZE OUR MACROECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS AIM TO PREPARE THE COUNTRY FOR MORE DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN INVESTMENTS.
TO ATTRACT INVESTMENTS, MY ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING, AS I SAID EARLIER, TO REMOVE BOTTLENECKS TO PRODUCTIVITY. WE HAVE ALREADY ADDRESSED ONE BOTTLENECK, AS I SAID EARLIER, THE COST OF POWER.
THE PHILIPPINES ALSO ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT. AND HERE, ANOTHER MANIFESTATION OF OUR BELIEF IN GROWTH LED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS THE ADVANCEMENT OF MANY PROJECTS UNDER THE BUILD-OPERATE-AND-TRANSFER SCHEME.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE ESTABLISHED SEVERAL INDUSTRIAL PARTS AND EXPORT PROCESSING ZONES. THESE ARE SELF-CONTAINED ZONES THAT HAVE THEIR OWN ELECTRICAL POWER AND WATER SUPPLIES, AND OTHER REQUIRED INFRASTRUCTURES.
THERE IS ALSO A HUMAN COMPONENT TO INVESTMENTS, AND I AM PROUD TO INFORM YOU THAT THE PHILIPPINES IS BRIMMING WITH SKILLED WORKERS. THE NUMBER OF JAPANESE FIRMS DOING ICT WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES IS A QUIET, BUT STRONG ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF FILIPINO TALENT.
WE AIM TO USE OUR ADVANTAGE IN PEOPLE TO PROPEL US INTO THE FRONTIERS OF THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY.
OUR ICT PROGRAM, FOR EXAMPLE, IS MEANT TO NURTURE THE DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLE WHO CAN ADD VALUE -- FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE WHO CAN FASHION THE BINARY CODES INTO SOFTWARE THAT WOULD SERVE AN IMPORTANT NEED IN BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, EDUCATION, GOVERNANCE OR SERVICES.
IN CREATING A KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY,
THE PHILIPPINES CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ITS YOUNG DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE.
PRESENTLY, 49 PERCENT OF OUR POPULATION ARE OF WORKING AGE. TWENTY
YEARS FROM NOW, THE PROJECTIONS SHOW THAT THE WORKING POPULATION WOULD
MAKE UP 58 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION.
TO SUSTAIN OUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE, MY ADMINISTRATION HAS RENEWED THE COMMITMENT TO PEACE AND STABILITY, WHILE UPHOLDING THE RULE OF LAW. WE HAVE ALLOCATED MORE RESOURCES TO OUR MILITARY AND POLICE AUTHORITIES IN ADDITION TO NEW METHODS OF DEALING WITH CRIME AND TERRORISM.
AS THE LEADER OF THE PHILIPPINES, I AM DETERMINED TO STAY THE COURSE TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMY AND BRING POVERTY UNDER CONTROL.
THE PHILIPPINES WELCOMES JAPAN'S PROPOSAL FOR AN ASIA-WIDE ECONOMIC COOPERATION FRAMEWORK.
THUS I HAVE FORMED A WORKING GROUP TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY OF REPLICATING THE JAPAN-SINGAPORE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT, WHICH IS AN FTA PLUS ALPHA. THIS MODEL AGREEMENT GOES BEYOND LIBERALIZATION IN TRADE AND SERVICES, AND GOES INTO THE MOVEMENT OF PERSONNEL IN SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONS, AND THE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OF SKILLED WORKERS.
JAPAN, CHINA AND ASEAN FORM AN ECONOMIC SPHERE TO RIVAL EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA. WE MUST BE CONFIDENT AND BOLD IN CHARTING THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF ASIA AND THE PROSPERITY OF OUR PEOPLES.
IT IS TIME FOR ASIA TO LEAD. WE CANNOT REMAIN ON THE SIDELINES. WE MUST STEP INTO THE BREACH AND ASSUME OUR RIGHTFUL ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL ROLE IN A FAST-MOVING WORLD.
I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE CONFIDENT IN THE FUTURE OF ASIA, IN OUR ABILITY TO COME TOGETHER TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS.
IT IS THE DAWN OF A NEW DAY IN ASIA AS JAPAN, CHINA AND ASEAN COME TOGETHER SEEKING GREATER ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND INTEGRATION. THE PHILIPPINES WELCOMES THIS DEVELOPMENT AND IS BRIMMING WITH CONFIDENCE AT THE ROLE WE CAN PLAY TO ASSERT THE ECONOMIC MIGHT OF THE REGION.
THANK YOU.
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
HONORABLE OTA, GOVERNOR OF THE OSAKA PREFECTURE; MR. HIROSE, PRESIDENT, NHK OSAKA; MS. REKIDO, SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR AND REPRESENTATIVE OF MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS COMPANY LIMITED, OSAKA HEAD OFFICE; MR. CANDO, MANAGER, MAINICHI NEWSPAPERS COMPANY LIMITED, OSAKA HEAD OFFICE; HONORABLE SYMPOSIUM PANELISTS; MGA PILIPINONG NARIRITO; DISTINGUISHED GUESTS; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
IT IS MY DISTINCT PLEASURE TO CONGRATULATE THE MAINICHI SHIMBUN ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 130th ANNIVERSARY. THE MAINICHI SHIMBUN IS A WITNESS TO MANY HISTORIC EVENTS, INCLUDING JAPAN'S GREAT PERIODS OF MODERNIZATION. AND CONSIDERING OSAKA'S SPECIAL 1,000 YEAR-OLD HISTORY AND OPEN CHARACTER, IT IS A FITTING TRIBUTE THAT THIS IMPORTANT FORUM ON THE FUTURE OF ASIA AND JAPAN BE HELD IN THIS LOVELY AND LIVELY CENTER OF INTERNATIONALISM.
THIS CONFERENCE IS BEING HELD AT AN IMPORTANT TIME, FOR THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 CHANGED THE WORLD.
THE SHOCK OF SEPTEMBER 11 AWAKENED US ONCE MORE TO OUR VULNERABILITIES. WE DISCOVERED THAT WE WERE FACED WITH A NEW AND DEADLY DANGER TO OUR COMMON HUMANITY.
FORTUNATELY THOUGH, WE HAVE SHOWN THE RESILIENCY TO BOUNCE BACK. THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATROCITY RALLIED PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD TO THE BANNER OF FREEDOM AND LIBERTY. THE INTERNATIONAL COALITION BROUGHT TOGETHER MANY NATIONS, AS OUR REGION WAS AMONG THE FIRST TO RESPOND TO THE GLOBAL CALL FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE OF DECENCY, DEMOCRACY AND CIVILIZATION.
UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS HAVE SET THE PARAMETERS FOR INTERNATIONAL ACTION AGAINST TERRORISM. REGIONS, INCLUDING OUR OWN, ARE MOVING TO STOP THE SPREAD AND ENTRENCHMENT OF TERRORIST NETWORKS.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THROUGH OUR JOINT EFFORTS AND SHARED DETERMINATION, WE WILL BE ABLE TO SECURE OUR REGION.
HOWEVER, WE MUST ALSO APPRECIATE THAT EAST ASIA MUST DEAL WITH MANY OTHER CHALLENGES. HUMAN SECURITY IS ABOUT SECURITY FROM TERRORISM, BUT IT IS ALSO SECURITY FROM POVERTY; AND SECURITY FROM POVERTY ENTAILS NOT ONLY POVERTY REDUCTION, BUT ALSO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL PROGRESS AND POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT.
POVERTY, IGNORANCE AND NEGLECT NEITHER CAUSE NOR EXCUSE TERRORISM. YET TERRORISTS EXPLOIT THE SENSE OF ANGER AND HOPELESSNESS OF PEOPLE SUFFERING INJUSTICE, INEQUITY, POVERTY.
WE MUST CONFRONT THE DANGERS
OF GLOBAL TERRORISM AND GLOBAL POVERTY ALL AT THE SAME TIME. WE MUST
FIGHT AND WIN BOTH THE WAR AGAINST THE TERRORISTS AND THE
WAR AGAINST MASS POVERTY. OTHERWISE, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DRAIN ALL OF THE SWAMPS OF UNCERTAINTY AND INSECURITY IN THE WORLD.
HUMAN SECURITY SHOULD BE A GOAL AND AN END FOR US IN THE 21st CENTURY. THIS HAS BEEN HUMANKIND'S ASPIRATION SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL. ITS FULFILLMENT DURING THIS CENTURY WILL DEPEND, IN LARGE MEASURE, ON A REGIONAL CONCERTED EFFORT.
KEEPING THIS IN MIND, I WISH TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING PROPOSALS.
FIRST, WE MUST CARRY ON OUR COMMON FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM. IN THE PHILIPPINES, THE PRESENCE OF AMERICAN FORCES IN BASILAN IN MINDANAO TO TRAIN FILIPINO SOLDIERS IN COUNTER-TERRORISM OPERATIONS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEUTRALIZATION OF THE ABU SAYYAF WHO ARE THE TERRORISTS IN SOUTHWESTERN PHILIPPINES.
BUT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE U.S. AND THE PHILIPPINES ON COUNTER-TERROR COOPERATION IS ONE OF EQUALS. WE WELCOME THE SOPHISTICATED TOOLS THAT THE AMERICANS BRING TO JOIN US ALONG WITH THEIR TRAINING IN THE LAST MILE TO ERADICATING TERRORISM IN THE JUNGLES OF BASILAN. BUT THAT IS NOT THE ONLY ENGAGEMENT THE PHILIPPINES HAS WITH THE U.S. -- THE PHILIPPINES IS ALSO ENGAGED ECONOMICALLY THROUGH ITS EFFORTS TO FIGHT POVERTY AND THROUGH THE SIGNIFICANT TRADE AND INVESTMENT BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.
INDEED, THIS MULTIFACETED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.S. WILL HELP ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEMENT LASTING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS IN THAT DEPRIVED, LONG SUFFERING PROVINCE OF BASILAN.
FOR THE PHILIPPINES, THIS IS NOT SIMPLY ABOUT A WAR AGAINST TERRORISM OR AGAINST THE ABU SAYYAF OR EVEN ABOUT THE COUNTRY'S ACCEPTANCE OF U.S. TROOP INVOLVEMENT IN TRAINING. IT IS ABOUT RETURNING THE FOCUS TO THE DOMESTIC ECONOMY AND POVERTY REDUCTION.
WE ARE PROUD OF THE ROLE THAT WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING REGIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY IN THE COALITION THAT HAS BEEN CREATED TO BRING PROSPERITY AND TO BRING PEACE AND ORDER TO A WORLD THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS TO RE-DEPLOY RESOURCES CURRENTLY FOCUSED ON ANTI-TERRORISM INITIATIVES.
AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL, INDONESIA, MALAYSIA, THAILAND, AND THE PHILIPPINES HAVE CRAFTED AN ASEAN RESPONSE TO TERRORISM. WITH INDONESIA AND MALAYSIA, LAST MAY 7th, THE PHILIPPINES SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO JOINTLY CHECK THE MOVEMENT OF TERRORISTS ALONG OUR COMMON SEA BOARDERS. THE NEXT DAY, THAILAND EXPRESSED ITS ACCESSION TO THIS AGREEMENT.
THE REAL DRIVER IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM IS THAT TERRORISM DRAINS HUMAN CAPITAL AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES, AND POVERTY FUELS SUPPORT FOR TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. RESTORING SECURITY ASSISTS IN ENHANCING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESS AND THE PROMOTION OF INVESTMENT.
IN THE CASE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN, WE HAVE ADVANCED OUR COOPERATION SINCE PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI AND I IMMEDIATELY PLEDGED OUR SUPPORT TO COMBAT TERRORISM RIGHT THE DAY AFTER SEPTEMBER 11, BECAUSE ON SEPTEMBER 12 I WAS ON A VISIT TO JAPAN. JAPAN'S STEADY DEMONSTRATION OF ITS COMMITMENT DESERVES THE ACCOLADE OF THE WORLD COMMUNITY AS IT ALSO DESERVES THE CONFIDENCE OF THE WORLD IN ITS ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
WITH JAPAN'S PASSAGE OF THE SPECIAL LAW ON ANTI-TERRORISM AND THE AMENDMENTS TO THE SELF-DEFENSE FORCES LAW, JAPAN IS ACTING IN BEHALF OF PEACE AND STABILITY IN
EAST ASIA. JAPAN IS CLARIFYING THE PARAMETERS FOR A NEW ROLE IN REGIONAL SECURITY. THE PHILIPPINES WELCOMES THIS MOVE AS THE PHILIPPINES EXPRESSES ITS FULL CONFIDENCE IN JAPAN'S EVENTUAL RECOVERY.
MY SECOND PROPOSAL FOR HUMAN SECURITY IS THAT, WE MUST DEEPEN REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION TO BUILD THE FOUNDATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE GROWTH.
WE ARE PROGRESSING WITH THE ASEAN FREE TRADE AREA OR AFTA. MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF ASEAN'S TRADE IS NOW IN THE ZERO-TO-FIVE-PERCENT TARIFF RANGE -- AND JAPANESE FIRMS ARE BY FAR ARE THE GREATEST USERS OF AFTA. JAPAN'S RECENT APPROACH TO BUILD ON AFTA IN THE FORM OF ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS WITH ASEAN COUNTRIES SHOULD BE PURSUED WITH VIGOR.
THE ASEAN+3 NETWORK OF BILATERAL SWAP ARRANGEMENTS UNDER THE CHIANG MAI INITIATIVE COULD BE A BUILDING BLOCK FOR ENHANCED MONETARY AND FISCAL COOPERATION. JAPAN IS PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN THIS NETWORK. FIVE OF SIX SWAP ARRANGEMENTS BY ASEAN CONCLUDED SO FAR INVOLVE JAPAN. FOR EXAMPLE, THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN ENTERED INTO A CURRENCY SWAP WORTH SOME THREE BILLION DOLLARS.
MY THIRD PROPOSAL IS THAT, WE MUST JOIN HANDS IN PROTECTING THE GREAT STRIDES OUR REGION HAS MADE AGAINST POVERTY OVER MOST OF THE PAST QUARTER-CENTURY.
IN THIS LAST YEAR, THE FIRST YEAR OF MY ADMINISTRATION, WE HAVE GIVEN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY A STABLE ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT. WE ARE CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN THE PHILIPPINE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT THROUGH AN ONGOING REFORM PROCESS, THROUGH CONTINUED ENHANCEMENT OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THROUGH A FOCUS ON GOOD GOVERNANCE.
WE HAVE SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS TO PROVIDE OUR POOR WITH BASIC SERVICES, SAFETY NETS AND LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES, AND A CONCERTED DRIVE TO MODERNIZE OUR AGRICULTURAL SECTOR.
IN AREAS OF CONFLICT, WE HAVE A REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN PLACE THAT AIMS TO INTEGRATE PLANNING ACROSS REGIONS TO GENERATE JOBS, BRING PROSPERITY TO THE PEOPLE AND MOVE THEM UP THE VALUE CHAIN.
THE PRIORITY FOCUS IN OUR QUEST FOR FIGHTING POVERTY INCLUDES THE PROVISION OF BASIC SERVICES, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRIES THAT LEVERAGE ON A REGION'S NATURAL ADVANTAGE. THE SECONDARY FOCUS IS ON DIVERSIFYING OUR EXPORTS AND SOURCES OF INCOME ON BOTH NATIONAL AND INTER-REGIONAL LEVELS TO PROVIDE FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNINGS AND SUPPORT MACROECONOMIC STABILITY. WE ARE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON INCREASING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR COUNTRY.
WE LOOK TO THE DEVELOPED WORLD NOT FOR DOLE-OUTS, BUT FOR EQUITABLE COOPERATION, AND I THANK JAPAN BECAUSE JAPAN HAS EARNED A VERY SPECIAL STATUS AS THE FIRST GREAT POWER IN THE WORLD TO PROMOTE PEACE THROUGH DEVELOPMENT WITH ITS GREAT OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE.
WITH THESE THOUGHTS IN MIND, I READILY ENDORSED PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI'S INITIATIVE FOR DEVELOPMENT IN EAST ASIA WHEN HE CAME TO VISIT THE PHILIPPINES IN EARLY JANUARY THIS YEAR.
WE ARE WORKING ON ELEVATING THE STATUS OF THE PHILIPPINES AS A TRUE GLOBAL PARTNER, NOT ONLY ON ANTI-TERRORISM BUT ALSO FULL POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC
ENGAGEMENT IN ALL OF ITS FORMS: BILATERAL TRADE, REGIONAL SECURITY, AND GROUPS SUCH AS THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AND THE UNITED NATIONS.
MY FOURTH PROPOSAL IS THAT, EAST ASIA MUST DO ITS RIGHTFUL SHARE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, FOR INSTANCE, ENERGY SECURITY IS LIKELY TO BE A CENTRAL ISSUE FOR EAST ASIA. HERE IN EAST ASIA, WE HAVE THE WORLD'S HIGHEST DEMAND GROWTH FOR OIL, BUT OUR ANNUAL OIL PRODUCTION ACCOUNTS FOR ONLY ABOUT FOUR PERCENT OF GLOBAL CAPACITY.
COUNTRIES IN THE REGION ARE FINDING AND DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY, AND SOME APPROACHES MAY BE DESTABILIZING.
JAPAN, AS THE CHAIR IN THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE KYOTO PROTOCOL, MUST CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE ITS LEADERSHIP IN ENSURING INTERNATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREED TARGETS ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND WE SHOULD TAKE STEPS TO AVERT RIVALRY OVER ACCESS TO NATURAL RESOURCES AND TO PROTECT OUR VITAL ENERGY IMPORT ROUTES.
MY FIFTH PROPOSAL IS, TO PROMOTE SERIOUSLY THE SPREAD OF DEMOCRACY, THE RULE OF LAW AND NATIONAL EMPOWERMENT IN OUR REGION.
IT IS IN OUR MUTUAL BEST INTEREST TO DEEPEN THE ROOTS OF DEMOCRACY IN OUR REGION. THIS IS WHY WE READILY ACCEPTED THE NEED OF THE NORTH KOREAN ASYLUM SEEKERS YESTERDAY TO TRANSIT IN MANILA ON THEIR WAY TO SOUTH KOREA.
WE CAN ENCOURAGE THE PROCESS OF PROMOTING DEMOCRACY THROUGH MORE DIRECT LINKS BETWEEN OUR PEOPLES.
IN THIS CONNECTION, I WISH TO HIGHLIGHT THE ROLE OF WOMEN AS PRIMARY AGENTS OF CHANGE AND TRANSFORMATION. WOMEN HAVE HAD THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR REARING CHILDREN AND FOR ENSURING SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO MEET FAMILY NEEDS. WOMEN ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF FOOD PRODUCTION IN MOST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES.
THE MULTIFOLD CHALLENGES OF PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND HUMAN SECURITY FALL UPON WOMEN FIRST, YET THEY OFTEN LACK RIGHTS IN OTHER ASPECTS OF THEIR LIVES. THUS, WE MUST REDOUBLE EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY IN EDUCATION AND TO ENSURE THAT WOMEN HAVE A FAIR CHANCE TO OWN LAND AND OBTAIN ACCESS TO FINANCE.
IT PLEASES ME TO NOTE THAT THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN SECURITY IS CO-CHAIRED BY DR. SADAKO OGATA -- FORMER UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES AND PROBABLY THE BEST KNOWN SYMBOL OF JAPAN'S COMMITMENT TO FIGHT GLOBAL POVERTY AS WELL AS AMONG THE BEST KNOWN WOMEN IN THE WORLD. I WISH TO SUGGEST THAT THE COMMISSION ON HUMAN SECURITY TAKES STOCK OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT WOMEN PLAY IN EFFECTING CHANGE TO ADVANCE HUMAN SECURITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
LAST DECEMBER 1998, THEN JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KEIZO OBUCHI DECIDED TO ADOPT HUMAN SECURITY AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF JAPAN’S FOREIGN POLICY. JAPAN INITIALLY CONTRIBUTED 500 MILLION YEN OR FOUR MILLION U.S. DOLLARS TO ESTABLISH THE HUMAN SECURITY FUND UNDER THE UNITED NATIONS AUSPICES. IN SEPTEMBER 2000, ON THE OCCASION OF THE U.N. MILLENNIUM SUMMIT, I RECALL THAT JAPAN ALSO PLEDGED A FURTHER CONTRIBUTION OF A 100 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE SAID FUND. AND RECENTLY,
WITH THE CONFERENCE ON THE RECONSTRUCTION OF AFGHANISTAN, JAPAN, AS THE LEADER FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF AFGHANISTAN, PLEDGED 500 MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND A HALF.
THE UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL HAS CALLED FOR A COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE PROSPERITY. EAST ASIA, OUR REGION, CAN RESPOND TO THAT CALL ONLY IN A REGIONAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE HUMAN SECURITY IS ASSURED, NOT ONLY FOR GLOBAL PROSPERITY BUT ALSO FOR WORLD PEACE.
THE CHALLENGE BEFORE US IS TO MAKE THE 21st CENTURY A CENTURY OF PEACE. AND IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER FOR HUMAN SECURITY, WE WILL BE ABLE TO MEET THAT CHALLENGE SUCCESSFULLY.
THANK YOU.
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THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
VICE PRESIDENT GUINGONA; SENATE PRESIDENT DRILON; SPEAKER DE VENECIA; MR. SADAOKA, CHARGE D’ AFFAIRES OF JAPAN; MEMBERS OF THE CABINET; GENERAL CIMATU AND THE MAJOR SERVICE COMMANDERS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES; MAYOR FRANCIS TOLENTINO OF THE LEAGUE OF CITIES AND OTHER OFFICIALS; FELLOW WORKERS IN GOVERNMENT; LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
THANK YOU FOR COMING TO MEET ME. I ONLY WISH THAT EXECUTIVE SECRETARY BERT ROMULO WERE HERE WITH US TO SHARE THE RESULTS OF MY TRIP TO JAPAN. NEVERTHELESS, I ASK THE NATION TO JOIN ME IN PRAYING FOR HIS QUICK RECOVERY.
HIGH PROFILE EVENTS HAVE TRANSPIRED SINCE I LEFT. JUST BEFORE I TOOK OFF LAST MONDAY, EAST TIMOR HAD ITS INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATION. AS I ARRIVED IN TOKYO, I WAS MET WITH THE NEWS THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT HAD OFFICIALLY DECLARED THE END OF THE RECESSION IN JAPAN. AND AS I WAS ATTENDING AN ENERGY FORUM TO OBTAIN INVESTMENTS FOR THE PRIVATIZATION OF OUR POWER INDUSTRY BY MIDWEEK, A BLACKOUT HIT THE LUZON GRID. IN A LATE BREAKING DEVELOPMENT, WE ALLOWED FIVE NORTH KOREANS ONCE AGAIN SAFE PASSAGE THROUGH MANILA FOR A JOURNEY HOME FROM CHINA.
THESE SEEMINGLY DISPARATE EVENTS ALL HAD A RELEVANCE TO MY TRIP TO JAPAN. IN MY MEETINGS WITH BUSINESS AND POLITICAL LEADERS, AS WELL AS MEDIA MOGULS IN THAT COUNTRY, WE WERE DISCUSSING THE FUTURE OF ASIA AND THE ROLES OF JAPAN, CHINA, SOUTH KOREA, ASEAN AND THE PHILIPPINES IN THAT FUTURE. OUR TERMS OF REFERENCE WERE VERSATILE AND WIDE-RANGING; THEY COVERED THE ENTIRE GAMUT OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND SECURITY ISSUES.
IN THIS LIGHT, EAST TIMOR IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SYMBOLIZES THE NEED FOR CLOSER REGIONAL COOPERATION IN ENSURING PEACE AND STABILITY UNDER CONDITIONS OF DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM. IN FACT, I AM VERY HAPPY AND PROUD THAT JAPAN AND THE PHILIPPINES HAVE A SOUTH-SOUTH COOPERATION FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO EAST TIMOR -- FUNDS FROM JAPAN ENTAILED FROM THE PHILIPPINES. THE CASE OF THE FIVE KOREANS IS RELEVANT TO OUR UNIVERSAL IDEALS OF HUMAN FREEDOM. AND REEMERGENCE OF JAPAN FROM RECESSION IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE JAPAN CONTINUES TO BE THE ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE OF THE REGION. IT HAS 60 PERCENT OF THE REGION'S GDP, IT HAS THE LARGEST CAPITAL IN THE REGION, AND IT HAS THE SHARPEST EDGE IN TECHNOLOGY EVEN TODAY. THE LUZON BLACKOUT BROUGHT INTO THE FOREFRONT THE URGENT NEED TO PRIVATIZE OUR ENERGY SECTOR, WHICH BEARS PRIMORDIAL RELEVANCE TO CONFIDENCE IN OUR ECONOMY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE GLOBALIZED REGIME.
TODAY'S AXIOM IS THAT EVERY SIGNIFICANT POLITICAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EVENT WITHIN EACH COUNTRY IN EAST ASIA HAS REVERBERATIONS THAT IMPACT UPON THE COMMON FUTURE OF THE NATION. THIS WAS THE CONSENSUS IN MY MEETINGS IN JAPAN; THIS IS THE CONSENSUS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO SHAPE THE FUTURE OF ASIA.
JAPAN REMAINS AN IMPORTANT PILLAR IN THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF EAST ASIA GIVEN, AS I SAID, ITS HUGE CAPITAL AND ITS SHARP EDGE IN TECHNOLOGY -- THESE ARE INDISPENSABLE DRIVERS OF THE INFORMATION AGE AND THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY OF THE 21st CENTURY.
I ADDRESSED TWO IMPORTANT CONFERENCES SEPARATELY SPONSORED BY THE TWO LARGEST MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS IN JAPAN -- NIKKEI AND MAINICHI SHIMBUN. PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI OF JAPAN, PRIME MINISTER MAHATHIR OF MALAYSIA AND PRIME MINISTER VORACHITH OF LAOS WERE ALL IN THE NIKKEI FORUM WITH ME.
AT THAT NIKKEI FORUM I SPOKE ON AN INTEGRATED EAST ASIAN ECONOMY, WHICH WOULD CREATE ONE MARKET OF TWO BILLION PEOPLE WITH RISING DISPOSABLE INCOMES. ALONG THE SAME TRACK, THE ASEAN-CHINA FREE TRADE AREA ENVISIONED WITHIN THE NEXT 10 YEARS -- APPROVED EVEN BEFORE MY TERM AS PRESIDENT -- AND THE INDIVIDUAL ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS OF ASEAN MEMBERS WITH JAPAN, ARE STRONG REINFORCING ELEMENTS OF THE TREND TOWARDS EAST ASIAN ECONOMIC INTEGRATION.
I HAD A VERY SPIRITED AND VERY CORDIAL MEETING WITH PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI. WE REINFORCED OUR BILATERAL RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH THEMES OF MUTUAL CONFIDENCE AND EARNEST HOPES FOR SPEEDIER REGIONAL INTEGRATION. I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO OUTLINE MY VISION OF THE PHILIPPINE-JAPAN PARTNERSHIP -- OF MARCHING CLOSELY WITH JAPAN AND THE REST OF THE REGION -- CONSISTENT WITH PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI'S VIEW OF "WORKING AND ADVANCING TOGETHER" FOR EAST ASIA. IN PREPARATION FOR MY NEXT VISIT TO JAPAN -- BECAUSE JAPAN IS IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO BE VISITED AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR, AS PRIME MINISTER MAHATHIR DOES ALL THE TIME FOR ALL THESE DECADES -- WE WILL BE WORKING OUT A POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROPOSAL FOR JAPAN TO FUND SIMILAR TO THAT WITH WHICH IT IS HELPING COUNTRIES LIKE AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN.
THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN ARE DEEPLY IMMERSED IN THE VISION OF ASIAN ECONOMIC INTEGRATION. BOTH COUNTRIES ARE COMMITTED TO STUDYING THE POSSIBILITY OF FORGING A BILATERAL ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OR E.P.A. THAT WILL SPELL OUT THE FRAMEWORK TO HASTEN THE PROCESS OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION.
THIS E.P.A. WILL ENCOMPASS NOT JUST TRADE, IT WILL ALSO COVER THE MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF PROFESSIONS AND SKILLS, HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS. IT WILL FACILITATE THE ACCESS OF OUR I.T. PROFESSIONALS AND OUR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS IN THE JAPANESE MARKET. PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI AND I AGREED TO HAVE A JOINT STUDY GROUP TO LOOK INTO THE SETTING UP OF THIS PARTNERSHIP. THIS WORKING STUDY GROUP IS LED BY SECRETARY OF TRADE MANUEL ROXAS ON THE PHILIPPINE SIDE AND HIS COUNTERPART ON THE JAPANESE SIDE.
I HAD MEETINGS WITH BUSINESS LEADERS FROM THE TOP JAPANESE FIRMS LIKE SUMITOMO, MITSUI, MARUBENI, MITSUBISHI, TOMEN, HONDA, TOYOTA, SANYO ELECTRIC. I REASSURED THE BUSINESS LEADERS OF THE SOUND INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES AND OUR DETERMINED EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE PEACE AND ORDER SITUATION.
I MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE JAPAN FEDERATION OF ECONOMIC ORGANIZATIONS OR KEIDANREN, WHICH IS THE ORGANIZATION OF THE TOP BUSINESS LEADERS OF JAPAN. I ALSO MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CAR MANUFACTURING SECTOR AND WITH THE LEADERS OF THE JAPAN SHIPPING INDUSTRY.
IN MY MEETING WITH KEIDANREN, I SPOKE OF OUR READINESS TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE TO JAPAN'S AGING CITIZENS -- BECAUSE JAPAN HAS AN AGING POPULATION WHILE WE HAVE A YOUNG POPULATION WITH MANY HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND PROFESSIONALS. OUR TOURISM PROGRAM CAN BE BOLSTERED BY "MEDICAL CHECK UP TOURISM" IN OUR RENOWNED MEDICAL CENTERS. AND ALSO CAREGIVER FACILITIES CAN BE SET UP IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR ECONOMIC ZONES SO THAT JAPANESE EXPATRIATE COMMUNITIES CAN BE DEVELOPED IN TANDEM WITH INVESTMENT VENTURES IN NURSING CARE IN THOSE AREAS.
ON THE CAR MANUFACTURING SECTOR, THE JAPANESE ARE READY TO EXPAND THEIR PRESENT FACILITIES TO A HIGHER STAGE OF C.B.U. OR COMPLETE BODY UNITS OR COMPLETED BUILT UP UNITS AND CAR PARTS MANUFACTURING IN THE PHILIPPINES FOR THE WORLD MARKET. I AM ENCOURAGED BY THE DECISION MADE BY HONDA CORPORATION, FOR INSTANCE, TO SET-UP A TRANSMISSION PLANT IN THE PHILIPPINES. IN MY LAST VISIT TO JAPAN LAST SEPTEMBER, THEY SAID THEY WOULD SET UP THIS TRANSMISSION PLANT FOR THE ASEAN MARKET. NOW, IN THIS LATEST VISIT, THEY SAID THEY WOULD SET IT UP FOR THE WORLD MARKET RATHER THAN JUST THE ASEAN MARKET. THIS WILL MEAN MORE INVESTMENTS AND MORE JOBS.
I ASSURED THE JAPANESE INVESTORS OF OUR COMMITMENT TO INDUSTRIAL PEACE THROUGH A SPECIAL TEAM HEADED BY SECRETARY ROXAS AND SECRETARY STO. TOMAS OF THE DTI AND THE DOLE. WE AGREED TO JOIN HANDS IN ESTABLISHING MORE PROACTIVE COOPERATION IN INDUSTRIAL PEACE.
ON THE PART OF THE SHIPOWNERS, THEY ASSURED ME OF THE CONTINUED HIRING OF OUR HIGHLY SKILLED SEAFARERS. ON TOP OF THIS, OUR SEAMEN CAN NOW ALSO TAKE QUALIFYING EXAMS FOR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS IN JAPANESE VESSELS -- ITO AY ISANG PRIBILEHIYO NA BINIBIGAY NG JAPAN PARA SA PILIPINAS LAMANG.
I MET WITH LEADERS OF THE DIET, BOTH FROM THE MAJORITY AND THE OPPOSITION. THEY HAVE CONTINUING FAITH IN OUR COUNTRY AND OUR PEOPLE.
I HAD A HAPPY MOMENT WITH THE LEADERS OF THE FILIPINO COMMUNITY IN WESTERN JAPAN, IN OSAKA. THEY ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR COUNTRY'S REMARKABLE ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE BECAUSE THEY CAN FEEL FROM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE THE REGIONAL DIFFICULTIES, THE REGIONAL CHALLENGES THAT THEY HAVE PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF, AND THEY ARE PROUD AND THEY KNOW WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT IT IS THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED OUR POSITIVE GROWTH RATES, A REDUCTION IN INTEREST RATES, A REDUCTION IN INFLATION RATES. THEY CAN APPRECIATE THAT THESE ARE ALL THE MORE REMARKABLE GIVEN THE REGIONAL DIFFICULTIES. THEY ALSO URGED OUR GOVERNMENT TO DEEPEN OUR LINKS WITH JAPANESE AGENCIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE. I THANKED THEM FOR THEIR ROLE IN KEEPING OUR ECONOMY STRONG AND FOR THEIR HEARTY REMITTANCES TO THE PHILIPPINES.
THE FUTURE OF EAST ASIA NOW MOVES INEXORABLY FORWARD, BUT WE MUST ALSO TAKE NOTE OF ITS ATTENDANT CONSTRAINTS. THERE IS STILL A WIDE DISPARITY IN WEALTH AMONG THE COUNTRIES IN THE REGION AS WELL AS WITHIN THE INTERNAL BOUNDARIES OF THE COUNTRIES OF EAST ASIA INCLUDING OUR OWN. BUT THE GOOD THING IS THAT THE MORE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ONCE AGAIN RECOGNIZE THEIR OBLIGATION TO NURTURE THE WEAKER ONES ON THE BASIS OF MORE EQUITABLE RELATIONSHIPS. THE MORE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES ONCE AGAIN RECOGNIZE THE OBLIGATION TO HELP FIGHT THE SCOURGE OF ABJECT POVERTY WITHIN THE WEAKER ECONOMIES. ALL OF THESE HAPPENED IN THE AFTERMATH OF SEPTEMBER 11. NOW, ONCE AGAIN, THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES RECOGNIZE THAT HELPING THE WEAKER COUNTRIES, HELPING THE POOR ESPECIALLY IN THESE WEAKER COUNTRIES, IS THE ONLY WAY THE LONG-TERM ENDS OF REGIONAL STABILITY AND SECURITY CAN BE ATTAINED.
IN THIS LIGHT, I URGED THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT TO LEAD IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTHENING OF INSTITUTIONS DEALING WITH POLITICAL AND SECURITY ISSUES IN OUR REGION. WE NEED A MORE SYMMETRIC BALANCE BETWEEN OUR ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS WHICH ARE QUITE ADVANCED IN ASEAN AND EAST ASIA, AND OUR POLITICAL-SECURITY INSTITUTIONS WHICH ARE QUITE FAR BEHIND THOSE OF EUROPE, AFRICA AND THE AMERICAS. THIS IS ONE WAY WE CAN ASSURE OURSELVES OF BETTER PROSPECTS FOR PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN EAST ASIA FOR THE 21st CENTURY.
ALL IN ALL, MY TRIP WAS ABOUT REGIONAL SOLIDARITY AND INTEGRATION, ABOUT THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM AND THE FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY, ABOUT THE CREATION OF WEALTH AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE LARGEST POTENTIAL MARKET IN THE WORLD, WHICH IS EAST ASIA WHERE WE ARE A PART.
WE ARE PART OF A LARGER WORLD -- THE PHILIPPINES -- AND WE MUST BE PREPARED TO FACE ITS CHALLENGES AND PITFALLS. WHILE OUR NATIONAL INTEREST LIES IN RECOGNIZING THE INEVITABILITY OF OPENNESS, IT MUST BE CHARACTERIZED BY STRENGTH AND ENLIGHTENMENT, BY A STRONG PHILIPPINES THAT CAN ADAPT AND REMAIN RESILIENT AMID THE BUFFETING WINDS OF THE 21st CENTURY.
OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH JAPAN IS SECURE, VIBRANT, INFUSED WITH CONFIDENCE. IT WILL SERVE US WELL IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
I THANK THE LORD FOR HIS BLESSINGS, AND I THANK OUR PEOPLE FOR YOUR FAITH AND SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
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