President Duterte and Prime Minister Abe / Photo from Nikei Asian Review |
Tokyo,
Japan – Despite being controversial to others especially when it comes to
the manner of speaking, vulgar language and contentious jokes, Japanese are
very fond of our beloved President Rodrigo Duterte, according to the Philippine
Envoy to Japan.
As
a matter of fact, this was the reason President Duterte was invited as one of
five state leaders to deliver a keynote address at the 25th Nikei
Conference on the Future of Asia on Friday, May 31, Tokyo, Japan, according to
Philippine Ambassador to Japan, Jose Laurel. This is his third trip to Japan since he assumed office in 2016.
The Nikkei Conference on the Future of Asia is an
annual meeting that gathers government and business leaders to share their
respective assessment of Asia’s prospects and their ideas as to the direction
Asia should chart for itself.
“[I]t’s
not [Japanese Prime Minister] Abe [Shinzo] alone — it’s the Japanese who are
themselves fascinated by his government,” Laurel added. Despite being
described as “controversial” by foreign news reports, Laurel said he believed
the Japanese found him “interesting.”
Other
keynote speakers invited are the leaders from Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and
Bangladesh to discuss, determine and assess their nations’ development.
The President is scheduled to
arrive in Tokyo on Tuesday night, on the second day of the Japan conference set
on May 31. He will also be meeting the Filipino community there.
Laurel mentioned during media
interview, the Japanese have “always
[been] fascinated with leadership that is recognized [and] affirmed by their own
people.”
Duterte’s leadership “at the same time, [comes with] tremendous
political will insofar as his programs are concerned. So he is not
controversial but interesting. He’s in a different class for the Japanese.” Laurel
added
The Japanese “are also looking at national leaders, particularly in this region, in
this era, and that [is what] tips the relationship between Japan and the
Philippines,” He mentioned.
Ambassador Laurel even described the diplomatic ties between the
two nations under the Abe and Duterte administrations as a “golden era.”
“You know our relationship
is tremendously on the upscale. To be very straightforward [about it], we do
not have any problem here,” Laurel said.
On the other hand, President Duterte may not have a chance to meet
the new Emperor Naruhito during his stay in Tokyo. Laurel clarified that the
emperor must be enthroned first before other world leaders can see him. A ceremony
is set to be neld in October this year.
Source: Inquirer
0 Comments