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Japan-Papua New Guinea Relations

August 2011

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:

Established in September 1975

Japanese Nationals:

Number of Japanese nationals residing in Papua New Guinea: 170 (Oct. 2009)

Trade with Japan:

Exports: 72,500 million yen (2009) (automobile, machinery)

Imports: 17,500 million yen (2009) (wood, copper)

Japan's Economic Cooperation:

List of Exchange of Notes

Loans: 8,261 million yen in 2009

      Cumulative total as of March 31, 2009: 70,446 million yen

Grants: 1,558 million yen in 2009

      Cumulative total as of March 31, 2009: 34,222 million yen

Technical cooperation: 642 million yen in 2009

      Cumulative total as of March 31, 2009: 25,469 million yen

Japan is the third biggest bilateral donor to PNG in 2008.

VIP Visits

From Japan to Papua New Guinea

Year	Name
1980	Prime Minister, Mr. Masayoshi Ohira
	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Saburo Okita
1985	Prime Minister, Mr. Yasuhiro Nakasone
	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shintaro Abe
1986	Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Vice-Minister, Mr. Yasuoki Urano
1987	Minister Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tadashi Kuranari
1989	Minister for Healh and Welfare, Mr. Junichiro Koizumi
1991	Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Vice-Minister, Mr. Muneo Suzuki
1992	Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Vice-Minister, Mr. Koji Kakizawa
1995	Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Vice-Minister, Mr. Yasuo Fukuda (Special Envoy to the 20th Anniversary of Independence)
1997	Member of the Diet, Mr. Man Sasaki
2000	Member of the Diet, Mr. Kosuke Itou (Special Envoy to the 25th Anniversary of Independence)
2002	Member of the Diet, Mr. Shozo Harada
	Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shigeo Uetake
2004	Member of the Diet, Mr. Yoshitaka Murata
2005	Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Keishiro Fukushima
	Special Envoy of the Government of Japan, Mr. Tatsuo Arima (Post-Forum Dialogue Partners' Meeting of the PIF)
2006	Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kiyohiko Toyama
2011	Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Makiko Kikuta

From Papua New Guinea to Japan

Year	Name
1977	Prime Minister, Sir. Michael Somare
1979	Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sir. Ebia Olewale
1985	Prime Minister, Sir. Michael Somare
1988	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sir. Michael Somare
1989	Governor General, Sir. Kingsford Dibela
1990	Governor General, Sir Vincent Serei Eri (Ceremonies of the Accession to the Throne)
1992	Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Akoka Doi
1995	Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan
1996	Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan
1997	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kilroy Genia
1998	Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Sir Rabbie Namaliu
1999	Minister for Education, Culture and Science, Mr. Muki Taranupi
	Minister for Public Service, Hon. Mr. Peter Peipul
2000	Prime Minister, Sir. Mekere Morauta (2nd Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
	Prime Minister, Sir. Mekere Morauta (Funeral of Former Prime Minister, Mr. Obuchi)
2001	Former Prime Minister, Sir. Michael Somare
	Minister for Bougainville Affairs, Sir. Moi Avei
	Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Mr. Roy Yaki (Osaka Symposium)
	Speaker of the National Parliament, Mr. Bernard Narokobi
2002	Minister for Finance, Mr. Andrew Kumbakor
	Minister for Privatisation, Mr. Vincent Auali
	Minister for Culture and Tourism, Sir Pita Lus
2003	Prime Minister, Mr. Michael Somare
	Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Sir. Moi Avei (3rd Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
2005	Prime Minister, Sir. Michael Somare
	Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Sir. Moi Avei
	Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Paul Tiensten
	Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, Mr. Arthur Somare
	Minister for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Sinai Brown
2006	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sir Rabbie Namaliu (Deputy Speaker of PIF)
	Prime Minister, Sir. Michael Somare (4th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
2007	Minister for Education, Mr. Peter Laimo (Opinion Leader Invitation Program)
	Minister for Environment and Conservation, Mr. Benny Allan (3rd World Water Forum)
2009	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration, Mr. Samuel Abal
	Minister for Public Enterprises, Mr. Arthur Somare
	Prime Minister, Sir. Michael Somare (5th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
	Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Gabriel Kapris
2010	Prime Minister, Sir. Michael Somare(Official Working Visit)
	Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Mr. Don Polye (Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting Mid-term Ministerial Conference, APEC)

Cultural Grant (cumulative total fiscal 1975-2004)

424.9 million yen (Cultural Grant Aid)

Overview

Papua New Guinea (PNG) became an independent state in 16 September 1975. The Japanese government established diplomatic relationship with PNG on the same day. Since then, Japan and PNG have been enjoying friendly and cooperative relations for more than two decades.

PNG is currently the largest recipient of Japan's aid among the Pacific island countries. Ministerial visits are also frequent between the two countries.