Japan PM Abe leaves PH after Apec meet

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe left the Philippines on Friday after attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Manila.

He departed from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport around 11:30 a.m.

READ: ‘Japan’s Abe, Canada’s Trudeau discussed South China Sea issue in bilateral meeting’

On the sidelines of the Apec summit, Abe met for the first time with newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a formal bilateral meeting, where they discussed pressing regional issues including the maritime rows in the East and South China Sea.

“(Abe) explained the region’s situations including the East China Sea and South China sea. He would like to promote the cooperative relationship with Canada in order to promote peace and stability in the region,” Yasuhisa Kawamura, press secretary of Japan’s ministry of foreign affairs and Abe’s spokesperson, said in a press briefing on Thursday.

The Philippines is involved in a sea row with China over the contested island in the West Philippine Sea. The country has a pending arbitration case before the United Nations to counter China’s nine-dash claims.

Japan, which has been vocal in supporting the Philippines in its cause, will serve as an observer in the second round of oral hearings at the Hague, Netherlands from Nov. 24 to 30.

READ: Japan’s Abe urges Apec: Scrap trade protectionism

Abe also urged fellow Apec leaders to “call back” the growing trade protectionism in Asia-Pacific for a more transparent free trade and regional integration. RAM