Bilateral Meetings between Prime Minister Noda, and the Leaders of the Kingdom of Tonga and the Solomon Islands

On Saturday, May 26 from 8:50 a.m., Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda held summit meetings with Lord Tu'ivakano, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, and Hon. Gordon Darcy Lilo, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, during his visit to Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture to attend the Sixth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 6). An overview of the meetings is as follows. At both of the meetings, Prime Minister Noda expressed his gratitude for the sympathy and support that Japan received at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

1. Prime Minister Tu'ivakano (8:50 - 9:00)

(1) Prime Minister Noda extended a heartfelt welcome to Prime Minister Tu'ivakano on the occasion of his visit to Japan and reiterated his condolences with regard to the passing of His Majesty King George Tupou V in March this year. He also expressed his gratitude for the warm hospitality that Their Imperial Highnesses Prince and Princess Hitachi received during their visit to Tonga to attend the funeral. Furthermore, Prime Minister Noda welcomed the decision to establish the Embassy of Tonga in Tokyo, and stated that he is confident that this will further strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries. Prime Minister Noda also mentioned that abacuses (soroban) have become widely used in Tonga, and that the previous evening Okinawa Employers' Association donated approximately 900 abacuses to Prime Minister Tu'ivakano, hoping that these will be useful to the people of Tonga.

(2) In response, Prime Minister Tu'ivakano expressed his gratitude for the invitation to the Sixth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, and he conveyed his appreciation to Japan for its support with regard to projects in Tonga such as construction of a hospital, which was recently completed, and solar power generation. Prime Minister Tu'ivakano commented that abacus classes have been useful for mathematics education ever since they were incorporated into education at schools in Tonga under His Majesty the Late Taufa'ahau Tupou IV, but that there has been the insufficient number of abacuses. Prime Minister Tu'ivakano stated that he is thus very grateful for the approximately 900 abacuses generously donated by the people of Okinawa, and that they will be of great use.

(3) Furthermore, Prime Minister Tu'ivakano stated that in the international arena, Tonga supports Japan's stance in regard to a variety of issues. He added that he hopes that the establishment of the Embassy of Tonga in Japan will strengthen not only the historically friendly relations between the Imperial Family of Japan and the Royal Family of Tonga, but also bilateral relations.

(4) Prime Minister Noda mentioned that the activities of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) are becoming increasingly important in regard to the realisation of global green growth and low-carbon society, which Japan is actively promoting. He explained a related workshop co-hosted by Japan and IRENA that is being held in parallel with the summit in Okinawa in order to strengthen relations with the Pacific Island Countries. Prime Minister Noda also stated that both Japan and Tonga are member of IRENA and that Japan intends to continue to cooperation closely.

(5) Furthermore, Prime Minister Noda expressed his gratitude with regard to Tonga's support for Japan in the international arena, and he added that Japan intends to continue to cooperate closely with Tonga in order to resolve issues facing the region and the international community, including the response to climate change.

(6) Before concluding the meeting, both Prime Ministers shared the view that they will cooperate so as to make the PALM 6 Summit successful and to further develop the relations between the two countries.

2. Prime Minister Lilo (9:10 - 9:20)

(1) Prime Minister Noda extended a heartfelt welcome to Prime Minister Lilo on the occasion of his visit to Japan and stated that he would like to further strengthen the good economic relations focusing on fishery that Japan and the Solomon Islands have established. Prime Minister Lilo commented that relations between Japan and the Solomon Islands date back to the Battle of Guadalcanal during the World War II (Note: Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, is located on this island.) He added that after the war, Japan has contributed to global peace and development, and he stated that he would like to express his gratitude to Japan for its assistance to the Solomon Islands in areas such as fishery, infrastructure development, and human resources development.

(2) Prime Minister Noda asked Prime Minister Lilo for his understanding and support in regard to the swift implementation of a nickel project in the Solomon Islands, which will further strengthen economic relations between the two countries and contribute to the economic development of the Solomon Islands. Prime Minister Noda stated that Japan intends to cooperate closely with the Solomon Islands in order to resolve issues facing the region and international community, including cooperation in the international arena and the response to the issue of climate change.

(3) In response, Prime Minister Lilo commented that he shares Prime Minister Noda's view that the nickel project will be important for the economic development of the Solomon Islands, and he stated that the Solomon Islands would make efforts towards implementation of the project. Prime Minister Lilo emphasised that the Solomon Islands supports Japan's stance in the international arena.

(4) Furthermore, Prime Minister Lilo once reiterated his sympathy in regard to the Great East Japan Earthquake, and mentioned that the Solomon Islands suffered from extensive damage caused by a tsunami in 2007.

(5) Before concluding the meeting, both Prime Ministers shared the view that they will cooperate so as to make the PALM 6 Summit successful and to continue to work to further strengthen bilateral relations based on the foundations for friendly relations that have been established thus far.