Japan-Vanuatu Relations
Japan- Vanuatu Summit Meeting
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
(Photo: Cabinet Public Relations Office)
On May 23, commencing at 4:07 p.m. for approximately 15 minutes, Mr. Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit meeting with Hon. Joe Natuman, Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu, who is visiting Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture, to attend the 7th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM7). The outline of the meeting is as follows.
1. Prime Minister Abe expressed his appreciation for being able to host PALM7 in Iwaki City currently under robust reconstruction, which set a fitting start of a new partnership between Japan and the 14 Pacific Island Countries. Prime Minister Abe also expressed his condolences to the victims of Cyclone Pam in March, and shared Japan’s intention to continue to support the reconstruction efforts of Vanuatu.
2. In response, Prime Minister Natuman expressed his gratitude for the tremendous support from the government, the diet members and the people of Japan extended in the aftermath of Cyclone Pam, and highly appreciated PALM7 concluded in great success.
3. Prime Minister Abe conveyed the Government’s intention to provide a yen loan of 4.6 billion yen for wharf maintenance in Vanuatu, in addition to the grant aid (200 million yen) signed on May 20 for the restoration and reconstruction work for the cyclone damage. Prime Minister Abe stated Japan would continue to actively support sustainable economic and social development of Vanuatu, in addition to the assistance given to the recovery and reconstruction from the disaster, to which Prime Minister Natuman responded with gratitude.
4. The two leaders also exchanged views on issues and cooperation in international arena including the work on climate change through utilizing the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and the UN Security Council reform.