Japan-Papua New Guinea Relations
Japan - Papua New Guinea Summit Meeting
July 22, 2025
(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Affairs Office)
On July 22, commencing at 3:00 pm for approximately 50 minutes, Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, held a Japan-Papua New Guinea Summit Meeting with Hon. Mr. James Marape, Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, who was paying a visit to Japan as an official Guest of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- Prime Minister Ishiba sincerely welcomed Prime Minister Marape's visit to Japan on the occasion of Papua New Guinea's National Day of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, on July 21, and expressed his desire to further strengthen relations with Papua New Guinea, that will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.
- In response, Prime Minister Marape expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome he received during his visit to Japan and his desire to further develop the relationship between the two countries.
- Regarding bilateral relations, Prime Minister Ishiba stated that Japan has been contributing to the development of Papua New Guinea in a wide range of areas, including education, infrastructure development, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and that notes on provision of facilities and training vessels to the National Fisheries University were signed and exchanged last month. Expressing his appreciation for the understanding of the project for collecting the remains of the war dead, he also stated that security cooperation has been progressing, and that he would like to materialize cooperation through OSA (Official Security Assistance). In response, Prime Minister Marape expressed his understanding and cooperation for the project for collecting the remains of the war dead and his gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for their cooperation with Papua New Guinea.
- In addition, conveying Japan’s strong support for the unity of the Pacific Islands region and the "2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent" of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Prime Minister Ishiba stated that Japan would steadily implement the commitments Japan made at the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) and continue to be a trusted partner of the PIF members including Papua New Guinea. Prime Minister Ishiba expressed his support for Papua New Guinea's candidacy to host APEC in 2033. He also expressed his expectation for Papua New Guinea’s participation in the GREEN×EXPO 2027.