Japan-Solomon Islands Foreign Ministers' Meeting

July 4, 2012
Japanese

(Photo)Japan-Solomon Islands Foreign Ministers' Meeting-2

On Wednesday, July 4, from 2:50 p.m. for about 20 minutes, Mr. Koichiro Gemba, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a meeting with Hon. Clay Forau Soalaoi, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Solomon Islands, who was visiting Japan to attend the World Ministerial Conference on Disaster Reduction in Tohoku at the Sendai International Center. An outline of the meeting is as follows.

At the beginning of the meeting, Minister Gemba welcomed Minister Forau to Japan, while expressing gratitude for the fact that the two countries have enjoyed a friendly relationship for many years, in particular in the fishery field, and for the attendance of Solomon Islands Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo at the Sixth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 6) in May this year. Additionally, Minister Gemba noted that many Japanese soldiers had lost their lives in battle in the Solomon Islands during the previous war, and he expressed thanks for the country's cooperation in gathering the remains of the war dead and on memorial service. Minister Gemba stated he hopes to further enhance relations with the Solomon Islands through economic cooperation.
In response, Minister Forau expressed gratitude for the warm welcome he has received from Japan during the visit, and for holding of bilateral talks with the Solomon Islands. Minister Forau also told that the two countries enjoy a long history of bilateral relations and are building a friendly cooperative relationship as partners, and that this meeting is a good opportunity to follow up on the Japan-Solomon Islands prime ministers' bilateral meeting held at PALM 6.
Minister Gemba stated he was aware the Solomon Islands also suffered enormous damage as a result of an earthquake and tsunami in 2007 and asked Minister Forau about his impressions of the damaged areas of Ishinomaki City, which he saw during his current visit, saying that because Japan suffered an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0, an unprecedented scale, this resulted in suffering extremely extensive damage in the region and that while the restoration process is not easy, Japan is making an effort.
In response, Minister Forau commented that the Solomon Islands is receiving a range of support from Japan, such as improvement of its water supply system, the reconstruction of Gizo Hospital which was damaged in the 2007 tsunami and the provision of disaster-reduction equipment. Minister Forau also noted the announcement by Japan at the recent PALM 6, that Japan will continue to support Pacific Island countries despite the Great East Japan Earthquake; and he thanked Japan for this support, while expressing his condolences to the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake. Additionally, regarding his impressions on the disaster-stricken area of Ishinomaki City, Minister Forau told the damage was greater than he had imagined, and he was able to gain a better understanding of the disaster that took place, but added that he was able to see that the city is being rebuilt and this was tremendously encouraging.
Following that, Minister Gemba commented on a nickel exploration project being undertaken by a Japanese company, saying that many concerned parties in Japan are paying attention to its progress. Minister Gemba stated the Government of Japan would appreciate it if the Government of the Solomon Islands could give necessary support.
In response, Minister Forau replied the Solomon Islands' Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade is working alongside government organizations, and Minister Gemba told if the nickel exploration project moves ahead then economic relations between the two countries will undoubtedly grow closer.
At the end of the meeting Minister Gemba expressed thanks for the support Japan receives from the Solomon Islands in various areas of the international arena, and Minster Forau replied that the Solomon Islands supports a stronger Japanese presence in the international arena, as was also confirmed at the recent Japan-Solomon Islands summit meeting.

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

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