Marcos welcomes Japan ex-PM, promotion of renewables upheld

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former Japanese Prime Minister and now Supreme Adviser to the Parliamentary Association of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), Kishida Fumio, on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation on energy security and boost the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy for both countries.

Kishida is in the Philippines from April 30 to May 2 as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister. He will participate in high-level engagements focused on advancing AZEC initiatives.

“I understand that you are here to promote AZEC, a very important initiative, especially in this time. It was already very important before, but it has become especially pressing and critical with all of the events that are transpiring in the Middle East and the effects that it has had on the entire energy system of the world,” Marcos told the foreign leader in a courtesy call in Malacañang, as quoted in a press release from the President Communications Office (PCO).

READ: Philippines eyes P25-trillion renewable energy investments

The President also said, “We hope that we can continue our work in moving our countries away from fossil fuels and absorb more of the renewables technology that we have been trying to shift to.”

The President thanked Kishida for Japan’s commitment to honor and maintain existing supply contracts for various fuels, the PCO said.

He also expressed optimism that tensions in the Middle East would be resolved, especially since there are around 2.5 million overseas Filipino workers in the said region.

For his part, Kishida renewed Japan’s commitment to advancing the initiative of AZEC, which aims to promote regional decarbonization and energy cooperation across Southeast Asia and the broader Asian region.

“We would like to promote cooperation with the Philippines on economic and energy resilience,” Kishida said.

He also conveyed the intention of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to work closely with Marcos, particularly on the Philippines’ hosting of the 4th AZEC Leaders’ Meeting in November.

Kishida turned over a letter from Takaichi to Marcos during the courtesy call. /cb