Courtesy Calls on H.E. Mr. Christopher J. Loeak, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Hon. Meltek Sato Kilman Livtuvanu, Prime Minister of Vanuatu by Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba

May 23, 2012
Japanese

(Photo)Courtesy Calls on H.E. Mr. Christopher J. Loeak, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands by Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba

Courtesy Calls on H.E. Mr. Christopher J. Loeak, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands by Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba

Courtesy Calls on the Hon. Meltek Sato Kilman Livtuvanu, Prime Minister of Vanuatu by Minister for Foreign Affairs Koichiro Gemba

On Tuesday, May 23, from 4:30 p.m., Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, paid courtesy calls on H. E. Mr. Christopher J. Loeak, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Hon. Meltek Sato Kilman Livtuvanu, Prime Minister of Vanuatu, who were visiting Japan for the 6th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 6). An overview of the meetings is as follows. It must be noted that the courtesy calls were paid following signing ceremonies for the exchange of notes for and grant aid between Japan and each country as well as for Japanese ODA loan between Japan and Vanuatu. Minister Gemba expressed his gratitude for sympathy and support from the countries in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

H.E. Mr. Christopher J. Loeak, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (from 4:30 p.m. to 4:50 p.m.)
(1) Minister Gemba welcomed President Loeak’s participation in PALM 6 and requested his cooperation for the success of the meeting. Minister Gemba also stated that he would like to further strengthen bilateral relations between Japan and the Republic of Marshall Islands and was pleased that passenger-cargo ships provided via grant aid would serve the people of the Marshall Islands.

(2) President Loeak stated that this was his first visit to Japan and also first participation in the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, that he had been looking forward to the signing ceremony, and that he would like to strengthen friendly relations with Japan. In addition, President Loeak stated that there were many Marshallese of Japanese descent playing active roles in the Marshall Islands, introducing his accompanying personnels.

(3) Furthermore, Minister Gemba and President Loeak confirmed cooperation in the international arena at the United Nations (UN) and in the field of the environment and shared the view that they would continue close coordination in the International Whaling Commission (IWC) on the basis of their common stance regarding the sustainable use of fishery resources.
The Hon. Meltek Sato Kilman Livtuvanu, Prime Minister of Vanuatu (5:10 p.m. to 5:20 p.m.)
(1) Minister Gemba welcomed Prime Minister Kilman’s participation in PALM 6 and noted that Vanuatu is known as a beautiful country with a rich natural environment where the tourism business has been thriving. Minister Gemba also stated that he was pleased that Japan’s support would help the people of Vanuatu through a grant aid project for the redevelopment of a hospital and first-ever yen loan to Vanuatu for an international multi-purpose wharf development project.

(2) Prime Minister Kilman stated that this was his first visit to Japan, and expressed his gratitude for the invitation from the Japanese Government. He also stated he was proud of the fact that relations between Vanuatu and Japan has been strengthening every year. Moreover, on the development of tourism business, he remarked that the development of an international wharf would be a great help for the economic growth of Vanuatu and that the project to renovate a hospital is necessary to achieve UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In addition, Prime Minister Kilman expressed his gratitude for the volunteers from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) who are playing active role in Vanuatu.

(3) Minister Gemba and Prime Minister Kilman shared the view that they would strengthen bilateral relations and close cooperation in the international arena.

(*The foregoing is a provisional translation. The date indicated above denotes the date of issue of the original press release in Japanese.)

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