PH envoy Laurel present credentials in Japan | ABS-CBN

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PH envoy Laurel present credentials in Japan

PH envoy Laurel present credentials in Japan

ABS-CBN News

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Japanese Emperor Akihito receives Anbassador Jose Laurel V’s letter of credence at the Matsu-no-Ma (State Room), Imperial Palace, 9 June. Photo courtesy of the Department of Foreign Affairs

MANILA- Philippine Ambassador to Japan Jose Laurel V presented his credentials to Japanese Emperor Akihito in a ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo last month, just as the two countries reaffirmed long-standing ties.

At the June 9 ceremony, the Emperor recalled his trips to Manila, most recently in January 2016, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement.

During the rites, Laurel assured the Japanese Emperor of his "commitment to further broadening and deepening bilateral ties [between Manila and Tokyo] as he paid tribute to the legacy of his grandfather, former President Jose Laurel, and his father, Jose Laurel III, who also served as Philippine Ambassador to Japan (1966-1971)."

Laurel was nominated to the post by President Rodrigo Duterte last September.

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In an Oct. 26, 2016 interview with The Daily Manila Shimbun, Laurel said ties between the Philippines and Japan are "the best," but said it still needs improvement.

"Just like husband and wife, it is not perfect because human beings are not perfect. There are always misunderstanding and even in my case," he said.

Laurel, a Batangas native, spent most of his childhood in Japan as his father served as envoy there.

"Together with other illustrious members of the Laurel family, he has devoted his life to promoting cooperation, exchanges and mutual appreciation between the Filipino and Japanese peoples," the DFA said.

Before taking on the diplomatic post, Laurel served as governor of Batangas, chairman of the executive committee of YKK Philippines, Inc., and chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Philippines-Japan Friendship Foundation.

The Philippines and Japan, its former colonizer, has seen improving ties over recent years.

In June 2015, the two sides signed a joint declaration to enhance their strategic partnership, agreeing to discuss an exchange of defense materiel and to hold joint military training, especially amid mutual security concerns over the disputed South China Sea.

Recently, Tokyo offered to finance some infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration, including the P255-billion railway that will connect Manila's main air terminal to Clark International Airport.

The offer came following Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's agreement to strengthen the two nations' strategic alliance during meetings in Manila and Tokyo.

In May, Duterte had to cancel a trip to Japan to address the unrest in Marawi City, where clashes erupted between state forces and Islamic State-linked terrorists.

The visit would have been Duterte's second since becoming president. He visited Japan in October 2016.

Duterte meanwhile hosted Abe in a visit to the Philippines in January.

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