Japan-Tonga Relations
Japan-Tonga Foreign Minister’s Meeting
On February 12, commencing at 11:35 a.m. local time (8:35 a.m. February 12 JST) for approximately 25 minutes, Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting Suva, the Republic of Fiji, to attend the PALM 5th Ministerial Interim Meeting, held a meeting with Hon. Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘UTOIKAMANU, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Tourism of the Kingdom of Tonga. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
At the outset, Minister Kamikawa stated that Japan and Tonga have built friendly relationship through the exchanges among the imperial and royal families, and young generation through rugby, and that she would like to strengthen cooperative ties based on common values and principles in addition to their "kizuna".
Minister Kamikawa expressed her hope that Japan's provision of equipment for processing agricultural products will contribute to the expansion of Tonga's agricultural exports and stated that Japan would continue to cooperate for the reconstruction and disaster prevention following the eruption of the submarine volcano and tsunami. In response, referring to Early Warning System that was helpful for Tonga, Minister Utoikamanu expressed her gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for its cooperations over the years.
The Ministers also held a candid exchange of views on regional situation.
The Ministers concurred to work even more closely toward the PALM 10 to be held this year.
Minister Kamikawa presented a box foiled with Kanazawa gold leaf in the hope of supporting the recovery of those areas affected by Noto Peninsula Earthquake.