High-ranking Japanese foreign affairs exec to attend Noynoy inaugural

Japan, the world’s second-largest economy and the Philippines’ top donor country, will send a high-ranking foreign affairs official to attend the inauguration of President-elect Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III on Wednesday. Osamu Fujimura, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan, will attend Aquino’s inauguration as his country’s Special Envoy, a statement on the Japanese Embassy’s website said on Monday. "The Government of Japan decided to send Honorable Osamu Fujimura, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan, to Manila as a Special Envoy to attend the inauguration ceremony of the new President of the Republic of the Philippines on June 30," the statement said. Fujimura is also a member of the House of Representatives who was elected for six consecutive times, the statement added. The Japanese Embassy pointed out that Japan has been the second largest partner in trade and the top donor of Official Development Assistance to the Philippines. "(Japan) strongly hopes that the strategic partnership will be further enhanced with the new administration of the Philippines between the two countries which share values such as freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights," the embassy statement said. - RJAB Jr/KBK, GMANews.TV