Japanese State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Osamu Fujimura Thursday paid a courtesy call on new Philippine President Benigno Aquino III, reiterating the Japanese government’s commitment to assist the Philippines through its official development assistance (ODA) and the Mindanao peace process.

Fujimura is Japan’s Special Envoy to the inauguration of President Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila Wednesday. His delegation included Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara.

In his courtesy call on Aquino in Malacañang Thursday, Fujimura said that as the top donor to the Philippines, Japan “would remain committed to assisting the Philippines” through its Official Development Assistance.

He added that the Japanese government has just approved a project that aims to provide 7,750 desktop computers among 775 public high schools in Luzon and the Visayas, which aims to benefit 170,000 students in these areas.

About 775 teachers are also expected to benefit from the project through teacher training. He noted that President Aquino emphasized the importance of education in his inaugural speech, adding that it is most important for the state to prioritize and provide consistent support to basic education to ensure a better future for children.

Likewise, Fujimura stated the Japanese government’s commitment to supporting and contributing to the Mindanao Peace Process, which was lauded by Aquino, who, for his part, vowed to improve the country’s business environment and give more room for investors to cash in on the Philippines.

Japan participates in the peace talks as a member of the International Contact Group (ICG) and the International Monitoring Team (IMT), in which the Japanese government had sent two experts to Mindanao as part of its commitment as a member of the IMT, which is headquartered in Cotabato City.