Japan-Papua New Guinea Relations

On August 3, commencing at 11:20 a.m. (local time) for approximately five minutes, Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who is visiting Singapore to attend Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-related Foreign Ministers' Meetings, held informal talks with Hon. Rimbink Pato, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Independent State of Papua New Guinea, who is staying in Singapore. The overview of the talks is as follows. 

1. At the beginning, Minister Kono stated that he is looking forward to visiting Papua New Guinea for the first time accompanying the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings that Papua New Guinea will host this year, and Minister Pato welcomed Minister Kono's remark.
2. In addition, with regard to the election for the next Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office, which will be voted on in October this year, Minister Kono expressed gratitude for Papua New Guinea's declaration of support for Japan's candidate Dr. Takeshi KASAI, (Director of Programme Management and Deputy to the Regional Director at WHO). Minister Pato confirmed that Papua New Guinea's support for candidate Kasai is resolute, and the two sides shared the view that Japan and Papua New Guinea will cooperate closely in the Indo-Pacific region, including with regard to this election.