6 January 2006 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto G. Romulo and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Ryuichiro Yamazaki preside over the joint press conference held at the Bulwagang Blas F. Ople, DFA to launch the Philippines-Japan Friendship Year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations.  In his remarks, Secretary Romulo said that: “Throughout this year, events and activities will be held in both the Philippines and Japan to commemorate historic milestones in our bilateral ties, celebrate our present close and vibrant partnership, and fortify or build new pillars for future cooperation between our two countries and peoples.”  The Secretary also looks forward to the signing this year of the  Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement that “will set in train a major transformation in the way our two countries do business with each other.  We shall be economic partners as close and solid as never before.”  (Mark Santos)