Japan-Papua New Guinea Relations
Japan-Papua New Guinea Foreign Ministers’ Breakfast Meeting
On November 16, commencing at 8:13 a.m. (7:13 a.m. Japan time), Mr. Taro Kono, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is visiting Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to attend the APEC Ministerial Meeting, held a breakfast meeting with Hon. Rimbink Pato, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea for approximately 50 minutes. The overview of the meeting is as follows. The meeting was preceded by the performance by PNG military band which was supported by Japan and a signing ceremony for the Exchange of Notes for textbook-related supports in the amount of approximately 1.2 billion yen.
1. At the beginning, Minister Kono congratulated PNG for successfully hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting. In response, Minister Pato expressed PNG’s consistent support for a free and open Indo-Pacific and thanked Japan for supporting APEC. He stated that he would seek to further deepen the bilateral cooperative relationship.
2. Minister Kono unveiled Japan’s assistance for PNG in a wide range of areas, including provision of fire trucks and cooperation for the referendum in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. In response, Minister Pato expressed his gratitude for Japan’s assistance over many years.
3. The two ministers exchanged views regarding North Korean situations. Minister Pato expressed his support for Japan’s position regarding North Korea.
4. Minister Kono expressed appreciation for the PNG’s consistent support for Japan in international arena. The two ministers shared the view that the two countries would continue to work together closely.