RTVM's video: http: rtvm gov ph - Bilateral Summit Meeting

Prime Minister's Office, Tokyo 27 September 2011 President Benigno S. Aquino III and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda have established the path to a strategic partnership that will best serve the mutual interests of Filipino and Japanese peoples when they held their bilateral talks at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo. In President Aquino's press remarks after the summit meeting, he stated that Japan is one of the country's most important allies and remained to be a top source of investments and official development assistance. He was happy to inform the Prime Minister of rising investor confidence in the Philippines, as attested by a string of credit rating upgrades. President Aquino also reiterated Japan's strong support for the Peace Process in Mindanao and capacity-building assistance to the Philippine Coast Guard in terms of training and equipment. Both leaders agreed to sustain the active economic cooperation and interest on other regional concerns like maritime security issues and disaster prevention and management. They also affirmed the abiding Kizuna - the close bonds of friendship -- between the Filipino and Japanese peoples. Prime Minister Noda thanked the President for his support on the March 11 earthquake and likewise expressed his condolences to Filipinos who suffered and lost their lives on the twin earthquake and tsunami disasters.