Japan's top envoy to the Philippines on Thursday renewed calls for the signing of a final peace agreement between the government and Muslim rebels to usher in development for the entire country.

Japanese Ambassador Toshinao Urabe said, "Achieving peace and human security in Mindanao will enhance the development of the Philippines" as "peace and better welfare...will contribute to the stability and prosperity in Asia."

Speaking at the launch of Japan's development assistance projects in conflict-areas in Mindanao in Pasig City, Urabe said Japan strongly supports the efforts by the Aquino government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to end the long-standing conflict in Mindanao through the peace process.

However, he said Japan "strongly hopes that peace talks...will come up with negotiated and peaceful settlement to end the decades long armed conflict and for the people to earn the dividends of peace."

Japan, a key player in the Mindanao peace process, is among several countries providing assistance to the ongoing talks.

The MILF, which used to be part of a larger secessionist group, had been waging rebellion in the southern Philippines since 1969, in one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies. Enditem