Iginagalang ng Palasyo ng Malakanyang ang pasya ni Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide sa Pilipinas.
Nakatakda sanang bumisita sa bansa si Suga sa unang linggo ng Mayo at makikipagpulong kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte.
Pero sa abiso ng tanggapan ni Suga, hindi na tuloy ang biyahe dahil uunahing tugunan ng Prime Minister ang problema sa pandemya sa COVID-19.
Ayon kay Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, kailangang suportahan ang pasya ni Suga lalo’t magkapareho naman ang adhikain ng Pilipinas at Japan na matugunan ang pandemya.
“Defeating the COVID-19 pandemic is high on both the Philippines and Japan’s agenda and remains a key point of cooperation. The decision to postpone a planned Official Visit based on this ground, therefore, deserves support,” pahayag ni Roque.
“The strategic partnership and broad cooperation between the Philippines and Japan will continue to strengthen even as we jointly and individually work to address the COVID-19 pandemic,” pahayag ni Roque.