Japan pledges to help Philippines rebuild Marawi

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Japan said on Monday it will help the Philippines rebuild conflict-torn southern Marawi city as well as other infrastructure in a deepening of ties.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made the pledges in a joint statement with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte following talks in Tokyo.

Duterte on October 23 announced the end of five months of military operations in Marawi held by ISIL rebels in a conflict that destroyed much of the city’s center and displaced some 300,000 people.

"The Government of Japan recognizes that rehabilitation and reconstruction of the city of Marawi is extremely important,” the statement said.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe review a guard of honor at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, Japan, 30 October 2017. /Reuters Photo

Japan also offered to help with other projects ranging from rail infrastructure to river defenses including a possible 600 billion yen (5.28 billion US dollars) loan to help fund development of a subway in Manila.

The meeting was an opportunity for Abe to discuss security in Asia ahead of key regional meetings beginning with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering in Vietnam in November.

"I confirmed with President Duterte that we are both maritime nations sharing basic values and strategic interests,” Abe said during his joint announcement with Duterte. The two countries, he added, would address common issues including North Korea (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea) and “a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

The Philippine leader will return home on Tuesday after an audience with the Japanese Emperor.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during their talks at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, Japan October 30, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Abe and Duterte will travel to Vietnam for the two-day APEC meeting from November 11, which Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump will attend.

Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other countries in the region will meet again in the Philippines after the APEC gathering for the East Asia Summit and a gathering of ASEAN that will be chaired by Philippines' president.

Duterte in his statement called the DPRK to halt its ballistic missile and nuclear test and return to the path of talks.

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Source(s): Reuters