Press Releases

1. On September 1, the Dialogue Partners Meeting was convened, chaired by H.E. Mr. Surangel S. Whipps, Jr., President of the Republic of Palau, with the participation of PIF leaders and representatives of Forum Partners (including Japan). State Minister HORII attended the meeting, representing Japan.
2. In his speech, State Minister HORII reiterated Japan’s unwavering commitment to cooperate hand in hand with the Pacific Island region in line with the “2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent,” while expressing Japan’s strong support for regional unity. He also explained Japan’s past cooperation and support in such fields as infrastructure, climate change, digital connectivity, and the economy and finance.
3. Referring to the updated “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)”, State Minister HORII emphasized the importance of enhancing countries’ “resilience” and “capability to have freedom to decide for themselves” in this increasingly complex environment , and stated that, with a view to PALM11 next summer, Japan would steadily advance concrete efforts together with the Pacific Island countries and regions.

1. On August 30, State Minister HORII paid a courtesy call on President Whipps and handed over a letter from Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan.
2. At the outset, State Minister HORII congratulated President Whipps on assuming the PIF chairpersonship. While mentioning that Japan and Palau are important partners bound by deep historical “kizuna” and sharing fundamental values, State Minister HORII expressed his desire to further strengthen the countries’ “tokubetsu” relationship toward realizing the updated FOIP. Furthermore, he also expressed Japan’s intention to consider providing support, such as human resource development, for the relocation plan of Belau National Hospital in coordination with the United States and other relevant partners.
3. In response, President Whipps welcomed State Minister HORII’s attendance at the Dialogue Partners Meeting as the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister. He also expressed appreciation for Japan’s past support and stated his desire to further strengthen relations with Japan as a trusted partner.

1. Meeting with Hon. Mr. Baron Devavesi Waqa, Secretary General of the PIF State Minister HORII held a meeting with Secretary General Waqa. He stated that the PIF plays an important role in furthering regional unity and expressed strong support for the PIF’s “2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent” and for the “Ocean of Peace Declaration” announced at last year’s PIF Leaders’ Meeting.
   In response, Secretary General Waqa expressed appreciation for Japan’s cooperation toward the Pacific Island region. The two sides concurred on closely cooperating together to toward PALM11.
2. Courtesy call on Hon. Mr. Dalton Tagelagi, Prime Minister of Niue State Minister HORII paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tagelagi. Welcoming their reunion since December last year, the two sides concurred on further strengthening the bilateral relations, including through cooperation in the area of disaster risk reduction, while maintaining the momentum of the last year’s 10th anniversary of the establishment of Japan and Niue diplomatic relations.
3. Courtesy call on Hon. Feleti Penitala Teo, Prime Minister of Tuvalu State Minister HORII paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Teo. After expressing appreciation for Tuvalu’s participation in the Island States Ocean Summit held in Tokyo in June this year, the two sides exchanged views on the international situation surrounding the region and on global issues such as climate change and concurred on further strengthening bilateral relations.
4. Meeting with Hon. Rick Nelson Houenipwela, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade and Hon. Peter Kenilorea Jr., Minister of National Planning and Development Coordination of Solomon Islands State Minister HORII met with Foreign Minister Houenipwela and Minister of National Planning and Development Coordination Kenilorea. The two sides discussed bilateral relations and regional affairs and, concurred on continuing cooperation to enhance Solomon Islands’ “resilience” and “capability to have freedom to decide for themselves” while taking into account the outcomes of the Japan-Solomon Islands Summit Meeting held in July this year .
5. Meeting with Hon. Charmaine Eraidinomo Scotty, Minister for Health; Internal Affairs; Women and Social Development Affairs; People Living with Disabilities; the Naoero Museum and Heritage; and the Naoero Tourism Corporation of Naoero.
   State Minister HORII met with Minister Scotty. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations as well as regional affairs and concurred on further strengthening bilateral relations through cooperation and collaboration in a wide range of fields.
6. Courtesy call on the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, Hon. Lord Fakafanua and His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala, Minister for His Majesty’s Diplomatic Services and Minister for His Majesty’s Armed Forces. State Minister HORII paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua and HRH Crown Prince Tupoutoʻa ʻUlukalala. At the outset, State Minister HORII conveyed his congratulations on his appointment as Prime Minister in December last year. State Minister Horii stated that the friendly relations between the two countries are supported by the close ties between the Imperial Family of Japan and the Royal Family of Tonga, as well as by grassroots-level exchanges. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional affairs and concurred on further strengthening bilateral relations through cooperation and collaboration in a wide range of fields.

1. Meeting with Mr. Alcide Ponga, former President of New Caledonia State Minister HORII met with former President Ponga, who is a Member of the government in charge of the energy and mining sectors of New Caledonia and attended the PIF meeting as the representative of New Caledonia. State Minister HORII expressed his appreciation that the Consular Office of Japan in Noumea, established in 2023, has contributed to strengthening Japan and New Caledonia relations. While noting that New Caledonia serves as a hub for Japan and France cooperation in the Pacific region, he expressed his desire to further advance the friendly relations between Japan and New Caledonia.
2. Meeting with Hon. Mulipola Anarosa Ale Molio’o, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Samoa State Minister HORII met with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mulipola. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional affairsand concurred on further strengthening bilateral relations through cooperation and collaboration in a wide range of fields.
3. Meeting with H.E. Mr. Moetai Brotherson, President of French Polynesia State Minister HORII met with President Brotherson. The two sides confirmed their intention to further advance the friendly relations between Japan and French Polynesia, including through two-way tourist flows.
4. Meeting with Rt Hon. Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand State Minister HORII met with Foreign Minister Peters. The two sides concurred on building on concrete cooperation to elevate the “Strategic Cooperative Partnership” to new heights as the two countries approach next year’s 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
5. Meeting with Hon. Ricky F. Cantero, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Federated States of Micronesia State Minister HORII met with Secretary Cantero. At the outset, while referring to his recent visit to the Federated States of Micronesia, State Minister HORII stated that the two countries have more than 150 years of history of exchanges and are important partners sharing fundamental values and principles. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional affairs and concurred on further strengthening bilateral relations through cooperation and collaboration in a wide range of fields.
6. Courtesy call on Hon. Mark Brown, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands State Minister HORII paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Brown. He expressed appreciation for the Cook Islands’ participation in the Island States Ocean Summit held in Tokyo in June this year.
   Noting the milestone of this year’s 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations , the two sides concurred on further strengthening bilateral cooperation through cooperation and collaboration ina wide range of fields, and to strengthen their “kizuna” , building on two countries` friendly ties.
7. Meeting with Hon. Justin Tkatchenko, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea State Minister HORII met with Foreign Minister Tkatchenko. While taking into account last year’s 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two sides concurred on further developing the already strong friendship between the two countriesthrough cooperation and collaboration in a wide range of fields, looking ahead to the next 50 years.
   Furthermore, State Minister HORII also mentioned further promotion of people-to-people exchanges by the recent resumption of direct flights between the two countries in July this year, and underscored Papua New Guinea’s importance in terms of energy security.

1. Meeting with Hon. Mr. Christopher Landau, Deputy Secretary of State of the United States of America State Minister HORII met with Deputy Secretary Landau. State Minister HORII stated that Japan welcomes the United States’ vigorous engagement in the Pacific Island region and that Japan wishes to further deepen Japan–U.S. cooperation in this region, which is important for realizing the updated FOIP.
   In response, Deputy Secretary Landau emphasized the importance of cooperation in the region among like-minded countries, including Japan and the United States, and stated that the United States values Japan’s role as a traditional partner in the region. The two sides exchanged views on regional affairs, confirmed the importance of maintaining and strengthening the unity of the Pacific Island region, and concurred on working closely together.
2. Courtesy call on H.E. Dr. Hilda C. Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands State Minister HORII paid a courtesy call on President Heine. He expressed appreciation for the Marshall Islands’ participation in the Island States Ocean Summit held in Tokyo in June this year and welcomed the continued high-level communication between the two countries, including the Japan–Marshall Islands Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in July this year.
   The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional affairs and concurred on closely working together through cooperation and collaboration in a wide range of fields.
3. Meeting with Rt Hon. Dame Rosie Winterton, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, State Minister HORII met with Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Winterton. State Minister Horii congratulated the new Burnham administration on its inauguration and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Winterton on her appointment. While confirming the importance of high-level close communication, two sides exchanged views on regional affairs, and concurred on that the two countries will continue to work together to address challenges facing the international community.
4. Meeting with Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of the Republic of Fiji State Minister HORII met with Minister Ditoka. While exchanging views on the international situation surrounding the region and on global issues such as climate change, the two sides concurred on further strengthening bilateral relations through cooperation and collaboration in a wide range of fields under the “Lomavata Kizuna Partnership” signed between the two countries’ leaders in November last year.
5. Meeting with H.E. David Adeang, President of the Republic of Naoero 　State Minister HORII met with President Adeang. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional affairs and concurred on further strengthening bilateral relations through cooperation and collaboration in a wide range of fields.
6. Meeting with Hon. Ralph Regenvanu, Minister of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-hazards, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management of the Republic of Vanuatu State Minister HORII met with Minister Regenvanu. While taking into account the milestone of this year’s 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vanuatu, the two sides concurred on further strengthening bilateral relations through cooperation and collaboration in a wide range of fields.

State Minister HORII met with Minister Conroy. The two sides welcomed progress in concrete cooperation in a wide range of fields on the occasion of this year`s 50th anniversary of the Signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation between Japan and Australia and concurred on continuing to deepen bilateral coordination including cooperation in the Pacific Island region, and further elevating Japan-Australia relations to new heights.

In addition, State Minister HORII held discussions with officials and others attending the meeting.

1. Visit to Malakal Port
   On August 31, State Minister HORII visited Malakal Port, a principal port in Palau.
2. Visit to Belau National Hospital
   On August 31, State Minister HORII visited Belau National Hospital, for which a relocation plan is being advanced with support from the United States, to see its exterior. Going forward, Japan intends to consider providing assistance, including human resource development, in coordination with the United States and other relevant partners.
3. Exchange with Japanese nationals residing in Palau
   On August 30, State Minister HORII exchanged views with Japanese nationals residing in Palau.
4. Exchange with JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers and others
   On August 31, State Minister HORII visited the JICA office and exchanged views with JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers on their activities in Palau and on Japan–Palau bilateral relations.
5. Official Memorial Visit
   On September 2, State Minister HORII paid a memorial visit to Peleliu Island, where he visited the Mitama (souls of war dead) Memorial Site as well as the Monument of the War Dead in the Western Pacific, and laid wreaths and offered a moment of silence. He also visited a cemetery for members of former Japanese navy in Koror on September 1.
6. Exchange with alumni of former Japanese Government Scholarship students
   On September 2, State Minister HORII met with Palauan alumni of former Japanese Government Scholarship students. They exchanged views on Japan–Palau bilateral relations and the activities of their alumni association which is active in Palau.