Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, left, talks with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during their meeting at Abe’s office in Tokyo Tuesday, June 24, 2014. AP
TOKYO—Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday announced that Filipinos wanting to visit Japan would have an easier time to get their visas following the relaxation of visa requirements for the Philippines.
“I also informed the President about the relaxation of visa requirements for the Philippines toward the promotion of human exchange. It is hoped that many tourists from the Philippines would visit Japan,” Premier Abe said in his statement following his summit meeting with President Benigno Aquino III.
In response, Aquino said he thanked Premier Abe for this development that would make “possible for even more Filipino tourists to visit this country.”
“Conversely, with the sustained enthusiasm of Japanese nationals for my country’s tourist spots, more of your people are finding out firsthand why it is indeed more fun in the Philippines. I thank the Japanese people for their contributions to my country’s economic growth,” the President said.
In May, media reports claimed that Japan would waive visas for Filipinos, sending netizens in a flurry of excitement over the prospect of having an easier time to visit Japan.
The Japanese Embassy in Manila quickly clarified that it was merely a proposal that has to be studied and would require bilateral talks between Manila and Tokyo.
In a statement, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa said the government spent about P8.8 million for the President’s daylong working visit to Japan.
President Aquino took a chartered flight to Tokyo accompanied by Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, Presidential Management Staff Chief Julia Andrea Abad and Presidential Protocol Chief Celia Anna Feria.
The President is set to arrive in Manila late Tuesday night.
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