Japan, Philippines to hold 'two-plus-two' security talks within this month
Japan and the Philippines plan to hold their first ministerial security talks online later this month, aiming to bolster cooperation in regional security, especially maritime issues.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (Photo: Reuters)
Hanoi (VNA) - Japan and the Philippinesplan to hold their first ministerial security talks online later this month, aimingto bolster cooperation in regional security, especially maritime issues.
Japan's Kyodo News reported that the Philippines willbe the ninth country with which Japan has held so-called two-plus-two talks,which involve the countries’ foreign and defence ministers, and only the secondSoutheast Asian country to do so.
The launch of such talks is in line with an agreementmade in November last year between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida andPhilippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Japan will be represented by Foreign MinisterYoshimasa Hayashi and Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi and the Philippines byForeign Secretary Teodoro Locsin and Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
The ministers are also set to affirm the importance ofpeacefully resolving disputes in line with international law, according to thesources.
Japan has also formed a two-plus-two framework withAustralia, the UK, France, Germany, India, Russia and the United States.
A Japanese government source has described thePhilippines as a “strategic point for security,” given its geographicallocation./.
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Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi (Photo: Reuters) 
