Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida conveys Japan’s solidarity with Filipino people; signs condolence book for Typhoon Yolanda Victims
Japanese FM Fumio Kishida signs the condolence book at the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo. The Foreign Minister was received by Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez.
TOKYO, 15 November 2013 – Japanese Foreign Minister visited the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo today to convey the Japanese Government’s message of sympathy and support for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda and the entire Filipino nation, in the aftermath of one of the deadliest typhoons in history.
FM Kishida reiterated Japan’s readiness to extend all possible assistance to the Philippines as it deals with the ongoing emergency response and relief operations to affected areas. The Foreign Minister recalled with appreciation the helping hand extended by the Philippines two years ago, as Japan grappled with the impact of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Ambassador Lopez thanks FM Kishida for the Japanese Government’s assistance to PH in the wake of Typhoon Yolanda.
Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel M. Lopez thanked Foreign Minister Kishida for his visit. “The Filipino people finds great strength in the support extended by Japan”, said the Ambassador, as he expressed the gratitude of the Philippine Government for the aid received by the Philippines from the Japanese Government in the recent days.
Underscoring the extent of the Japanese Foreign Service’s commiseration and solidarity with the Philippines, other high ranking officials of the Japanese Foreign Ministry also visited the Embassy today to sign the condolence book, including Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister Noro Mitsuya, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Hirotaka Ishihara, Parliamentary Vice-Minister Seiji Kihara, and the Ministry’s highest-ranking career civil servant, Vice-Minister Akitaka Saiki. They were joined by Directors General and other Japanese career diplomats.
Earlier in the day, Japan announced the extension of an additional Emergency Grant Aid of US$ 20 million, on top of the US$ 10 million assistance announced last November 12. The grant is intended for various forms of emergency humanitarian assistance to be extended in cooperation with the World Food Programme (WFP), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Apart from these grants, Japan has also dispatched a Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Medical Team and members of Japan’s Self-Defense Force (SDF) Units to assist affected communities. END
