Japan-Kiribati Relations

July 17, 2020

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:

  • Established in March 1980

Japanese Nationals:

  • Number of Japanese nationals residing in Kiribati: 20 (2018)

Trade with Japan (2019):

  • Japan’s Exports to Kiribati: 670 million yen
  • Japan’s Imports from Kiribati: 780 million yen

Japan's Economic Cooperation:

  • List of Exchange of Notes
  • Grants: 1,436 million yen
  • Cumulative total as of 2017: 22,466 million yen
  • Technical cooperation: 131 million yen
  • Cumulative total as of 2017: 4,763 million yen

VIP Visits

From Japan to Kiribati
Year Name
1979 Member of Diet, Mr. Akira Ono (Special Envoy to the Independence Ceremony)
2000 Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Katsuhito Asano
2009 State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Seiko Hashimoto
2018 Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Iwao Horii
From Kiribati to Japan
Year Name
1979, 1985, 1988, 1990 President, Mr. Ieremia Tabai
1997 President, Mr. Teburoro Tito (Japan-SPF Summit)
2000 President, Mr. Teburoro Tito (2nd Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
2001 President, Mr. Teburoro Tito (Guest of Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
2006 President, Mr. Anote Tong (Working visit)
2007 President, Mr. Anote Tong (1at Asia-Pacific Water Forum)
2009 President, Mr. Anote Tong (5th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
2010 Minister of Education, Mr. Toakai Koririntetaake (PALM Ministerial Interim Meeting)
2011 Minister of Communication, Transport and Tourism Development, Mr. Temate Ereateiti
2012 President, Mr. Anote Tong (6th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
2012 Vice-President, Ms. Teima Onorio (IMF-World Bank Annual Meeting)
2013 President, Mr. Anote Tong (PALM 2nd Ministerial Interim Meeting)
2015 President, Mr. Anote Tong (The 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction)
2015 President, Mr. Anote Tong (7th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
2015 Minister of Communication, Transport and Tourism, Mr. Rimeta Beniamina (Pacific Islands Countries Tourism Ministers Meeting)
2018 President, Mr. Taneti Maamau (8th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
2019 Minister of Infrastructure & Sustainable Energy, Mr. Ruateki Tekaiara (Ceremonies of the Accession to the Throne)
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