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MANILA - Japan's Deputy Prime Minister Katsuya Okada has committed his government's support in convincing Japanese businesses to invest in the Philippines' energy and tourism sectors, Vice President Jejomar Binay said on Wednesday.
Upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, Binay said Okada acknowledged the Aquino administration's anti-corruption drive as "a very good incentive" for investors to reconsider the Philippines as an alternative to China, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Binay, who was in Tokyo since Monday to keynote an international conference on cyber security, described his talks with Okada as “warm, friendly and most productive.”
The Vice President said he raised a lot of investment opportunities in the Philippines during his courtesy call with Okada, who in turn called for more high-level political exchanges between the Philippines and Japan to deepen their bilateral economic and trade relationship.
Binay said Okada cited the Philippines' young labor force - with a median age of 21.7 years - as a good complement to Japan's 45 years, especially in the fields of nursing and care giving.
The Japanese official also assured his country's continued grant of official development assistance to promote inclusive growth in the Philippines, Binay said.
He said Okada also expressed optimism that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will continue to discuss with China prospects for peaceful navigation at the West Philippine Sea.
Asean foreign ministers recently failed to reach an agreement on a code of conduct on the disputed territories during a conference in Cambodia.
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