Japan-Papua New Guinea Relations

1. Prime Minister Abe welcomed Prime Minister O’Neill’s visit to Japan, which commemorates the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and welcomed the increasing closeness of the two countries’ relationship through the active reciprocal visits of the two leaders, including Prime Minister Abe’s visit to PNG in July last year, and Prime Minister O’Neill’s four visits to Japan over a three-year period, and that the bilateral relationship is developing into a comprehensive partnership of a new age.

2. Prime Minister O’Neill highly appreciated that Japan is an important partner that has been supporting PNG’s sustainable development and economic and social development for many years, and that the two countries’ relationship is developing like never before, and bringing huge benefits to both countries and to the region.

3. Additionally, Prime Minister O’Neill appreciated and reiterated his support for Japan’s policy of “Proactive Contribution to Peace” based on the principle of international cooperation, including the new Legislation for Peace and eScurity, and in light of the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, the two leaders looked back on the contributions both countries have been making to the peace and prosperity of the region and the international community, and shared the view that those contributions will continue, and cooperation in the international arena will be strengthened further.

4. Prime Minister Abe welcomed the steady deepening in cooperation between the two countries in the economic field, as seen in Japanese companies’ participation in an LNG project, the signing of a shareholders’ agreement in the methanol business, and the convening of the first meeting of the Joint Committee of the Investment Agreement between the two countries, and the two leaders affirmed that they will work together to further strengthen the trade and investment relationship. In addition, the two leaders welcomed the signing of the Agreement on Technical Cooperation, and the Exchange of Notes Verbales on the reciprocal visa waiver for diplomatic and official passport holders, and expressed expectation that the two countries’ exchanges will deepen further.

5. Prime Minister O’Neill once again expressed support for the establishment of “World Tsunami Day” and United Nations Security Council reform, including Japan becoming a permanent member, and expressed PNG’s continued cooperation on a project to recover and repatriate the remains of the war dead. The two leaders affirmed continued cooperation in a broad range of fields, including climate change and disaster risk reduction, and fisheries.

6. Following the meeting, the two leaders issued a joint message (English (PDF) / Japanese (PDF)) that included a vow to further strengthen the interactive and comprehensive partnership in this broad range of fields.

7. At the dinner after the meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on a wide range of topics, including sports and tourism, in a very relaxed atmosphere.