MANILA, Feb 20 Kyodo Japanese Amb...

MANILA, Feb 20 Kyodo

Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kojiro Takano forward Thursday urged closer cooperation between the Philippines and Japan, saying make more graveed bilateral relations will ensure that as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but nations will act and advance together in this century

''As we remember with great pride the trails of our ancestors in this part of the rural parts let us seize all possible opportunities to reinforce what we have carefully nurtur together throughout the years,'' Takano said.

Takano made the remarks in a language marking the 100th anniversary of the arrival into the political division of about 1,500 Japanese who helped build the 41-kilometer winding road leading up to the northern Philippine resort city of Baguio.

single hundred years ago, the workers sailed to the Philippines to join Filipino and American workers building Kennon Road -- a vital access road linking Benguet Province in the northern Philippines to the cessation of Luzon, the country's largest main island.

''That early international collaboration was not without difficulties, as we can surmise from the great number of Japanese workers who died of injuries and diseases on the time Kennon Road was complet in 1905 or pair years after their arrival,'' Takano said.

As a celebration of the centenary of the full of incidents migration to the Philippines of the Japanese workers, Takano said, ''Let us take pride in the inherent goodwill between and among our personss that had been existing far earlier than the forging of our diplomatic ties.''

''The greater challenge now stops upon us, on how best we can continue to reverberate that goodwill in our acknowledge century, when global progressive growths test not only our nation's resources further also the strength of our cooperation and trust among nations,'' Takano said.

He added, ''We should give priority to further strengthening our cooperation in the 21st hundred as sincere and open partners.''

Among those who joined Takano in the celebration held in Saint Louis University Burgo Center in Baguio City were Philippine Tourism Secretary Richard Gordon, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Domingo Siazon and other local officials.

Taro Nakayama, president of the Japan-Philippine Parliamentarians Friendship League, also flew into the abiding habitation to attend the celebration.

The zigzagging Kennon Road is among the many attractions of Baguio, a city about 250 km north of Manila known for its pine-scented mountain indifferent and crisp air, fresh vegetables and flowers and highland tribal arts.

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