Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin (L) exchanges notes with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi after their bilateral meeting in Manila, the Philippines, on January 9, 2020. (Photo: AP) Hanoi (VNA) - PhilippineForeign Secretary Teodoro Locsin said on January 9 that the Philippines haslifted restrictions on Japanese food imports imposed following the 2011Fukushima nuclear disaster due to a lower risk of radioactive contamination.
Locsin said during a meeting with hisJapanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi in Manila that the Philippines hadeliminated the need for radiation test results for shipments of some types ofseafood and agricultural products from Fukushima and surrounding areas on January8.
Meanwhile, Motegi told a joint pressbriefing after the meeting that he looked forward to safe Japanese foodreaching many of the people of the Philippines.
The Philippines had requiredradiation testing of beef and vegetables from Fukushima and Ibaraki, as well asfishery products from the two prefectures along with Tochigi and Gunmafollowing the March 2011 triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear powerplant, triggered by a powerful earthquake and tsunami.
As many as 54 countries and territoriestook such measures following the crisis. The announcement by the Philippinesmeans the number has fallen to 20, with the US, China and the Republic of Koreaamong countries maintaining restrictions of some kind.
At the meeting, the two ministers alsoagreed to step up security cooperation as well as economic partnership,including infrastructure development.
The two sides signed an agreement forJapan to provide a low-interest loan of up to 4.4 billion yen (40 million USD)to reinforce major bridges in Manila./.
VNA
