Tokyo PE Highlights Growth Story and Future Prospects in Philippine Forum
The Philippine Embassy co-organized a forum for Japanese nationals as part of its cultural and public diplomacy efforts together with the Active Middle International Association (AMIA), a Japanese non-profit organization (NPO), on 16 October 2019.
In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V, underscored how people-to-people relations underpins the strength of the Philippines-Japan Strategic Partnership, making Japan one of the country’s most important bilateral partners in the post-war era.
The forum participants together with Ambassador Jose C. Laurel V and DCM Robespierre L. Bolivar
In his lecture, Deputy Chief of Mission Robespierre L. Bolivar highlighted the Philippines’ economic achievements and its prospects for the future under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s 10-point socio-economic agenda and Build, Build, Build program. He also shared the Philippines’ progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) whose vision and objectives are in line with the Philippines’ own developmental goals towards the realization of Ambisyon Natin 2040. DCM Bolivar likewise highlighted the Philippines’ leadership in ASEAN as well as its foreign policy agenda in various multilateral fora, including the United Nations and its organs.
Aside from the lecture about the Philippines, the participants were feted to a feast of the sights, sounds and tastes of Filipino songs, dances and cuisine, which provided them a better appreciation of the Philippines’ cultural heritage and traditions.
DCM Robespierre L. Bolivar delivers a lecture about the Philippines (top); Japanese participants enjoy a cultural presentation (bottom)
Around 40 Japanese nationals participated in the forum, mostly professionals and businessmen from across different sectors and industries, including in education.
JCOM, a cable channel in Tokyo with around 5 million subcribers, covered the event which will be broadcast in its feature programming.
AMIA is a Japanese NPO established in 2003. Since 2009, it has organized forums and receptions with various embassies in Japan with the aim to promote mutual understanding among the Japanese and other nationalities, including through sports events.
