Japan-Papua New Guinea Relations

February 13, 2020

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:

  • Established in September 1975

Japanese Nationals:

  • Number of Japanese nationals residing in Papua New Guinea: 177 (Oct. 2018)

Trade with Japan (2019):

  • Japan's Exports to Papua New Guinea: 17,620 million yen
  • Japan's Imports from Papua New Guinea: 262,250 million yen

Japan's Economic Cooperation:

  • List of Exchange of Notes
  • Loans: None in FY 2017
  • Cumulative total as of 2017: 105,728 million yen
  • Grants: 88 million yen in FY 2017
  • Cumulative total as of 2017: 44,063 million yen
  • Technical cooperation: 1,100 million yen in FY 2017
  • Cumulative total as of 2017: 34,809 million yen
  • Japan is the second biggest bilateral donor to PNG in the average from 2016 to 2017.

VIP Visits

From Japan to Papua New Guinea
Year Name
1980 Prime Minister, Mr. Masayoshi Ohira
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Saburo Okita
1985 Prime Minister, Mr. Yasuhiro Nakasone
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shintaro Abe
1986 Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Vice-Minister, Mr. Yasuoki Urano
1987 Minister Foreign Affairs, Mr. Tadashi Kuranari
1989 Minister for Healh and Welfare, Mr. Junichiro Koizumi
1991 Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Vice-Minister, Mr. Muneo Suzuki
1992 Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Vice-Minister, Mr. Koji Kakizawa
1995 Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Vice-Minister, Mr. Yasuo Fukuda (Special Envoy to the 20th Anniversary of Independence)
1997 Member of the Diet, Mr. Man Sasaki
2000 Member of the Diet, Mr. Kosuke Itou (Special Envoy to the 25th Anniversary of Independence)
2002 Member of the Diet, Mr. Shozo Harada
Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Shigeo Uetake
2004 Member of the Diet, Mr. Yoshitaka Murata
2005 Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Keishiro Fukushima
Special Envoy of the Government of Japan, Mr. Tatsuo Arima (Post-Forum Dialogue Partners' Meeting of the PIF)
2006 Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kiyohiko Toyama
2011 Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Makiko Kikuta
2013 Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Minoru Kiuchi
Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Norio Mitsuya
2014 Prime Minister, Mr. Shinzo Abe
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Takashi Uto
2015 Special Envoy of Prime Minister and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane (Post-Forum Dialogue Partner's Meeting of the PIF)
2017 Member of the House of Councillors, Mr. Masahisa Sato
2018 Special Advisor to the Prime Minister, Mr. Kentaro Sonoura
2018 Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Iwao Horii
2018 Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Minister for Foreign Affairs Taro Kono (APEC)
2019 Member, House of Representatives, Mr. Ichiro Aisawa
From Papua New Guinea to Japan
Year Name
1977 Prime Minister, Sir. Michael Somare
1979 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sir. Ebia Olewale
1985 Prime Minister, Sir. Michael Somare
1988 Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sir. Michael Somare
1989 Governor General, Sir. Kingsford Dibela
1990 Governor General, Sir Vincent Serei Eri (Ceremonies of the Accession to the Throne)
1992 Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Akoka Doi
1995 Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan
1996 Prime Minister, Sir Julius Chan
1997 Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kilroy Genia
1998 Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Sir Rabbie Namaliu
1999 Minister for Education, Culture and Science, Mr. Muki Taranupi
Minister for Public Service, Hon. Mr. Peter Peipul
2000 Prime Minister, Sir. Mekere Morauta (2nd Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
Prime Minister, Sir. Mekere Morauta (Funeral of Former Prime Minister, Mr. Obuchi)
2001 Former Prime Minister, Sir. Michael Somare
Minister for Bougainville Affairs, Sir. Moi Avei
Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Mr. Roy Yaki (Osaka Symposium)
Speaker of the National Parliament, Mr. Bernard Narokobi
2002 Minister for Finance, Mr. Andrew Kumbakor
Minister for Privatisation, Mr. Vincent Auali
Minister for Culture and Tourism, Sir Pita Lus
2003 Prime Minister, Mr. Michael Somare
Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Sir. Moi Avei (3rd Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
2005 Prime Minister, Sir. Michael Somare
Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Sir. Moi Avei
Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr. Paul Tiensten
Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, Mr. Arthur Somare
Minister for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Sinai Brown
2006 Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sir Rabbie Namaliu (Deputy Speaker of PIF)
Prime Minister, Sir. Michael Somare (4th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
2007 Minister for Education, Mr. Peter Laimo (Opinion Leader Invitation Program)
Minister for Environment and Conservation, Mr. Benny Allan (3rd World Water Forum)
2009 Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration, Mr. Samuel Abal
Minister for Public Enterprises, Mr. Arthur Somare
Prime Minister, Sir. Michael Somare (5th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Gabriel Kapris
2010 Prime Minister, Sir. Michael Somare (Official Working Visit)
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Mr. Don Polye (Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting Mid-term Ministerial Conference, APEC)
2011 Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Mr. Don Polye
Minister for National Planning and Community Development, Hon. Paul Tiensten (MDGs follow-up Meeting)
2013 Prime Minister, Hon. Peter O'Neill (Working Visit)
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Hon. Rimbink Pato (2nd PALM Ministerial Interim Meeting)
2014 Prime Minister, Hon. Peter O'Neill
2015 Governor of East Sepik, Rt Hon Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare (Ceremony of Imperial Conferment of Decoration)
Prime Minister, Hon. Peter O'Neill (7th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
Prime Minister, Hon. Peter O'Neill (Official Working Visit)
2016 Prime Minister, Hon. Peter O'Neill (G7 Ise-Shima Summit)
2017 Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Hon. Rimbink Pato (Third Ministerial Interim Meeting of PALM)
2018 Prime Minister, Hon. Peter O'Neill and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Hon. Rimbink Pato (8th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting)
2019 Governor-General, H.E. Grand Chief Sir Bob DADAE (Ceremonies of the Accession to the Throne)

Cultural Grant (cumulative total fiscal Jan 1977-Mar 2019)

  • Cultural Grant Assistance:496.7 million yen
  • Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects: 62.6 million yen

Overview

Papua New Guinea (PNG) became an independent state in 16 September 1975. The Japanese government established diplomatic relationship with PNG on the same day. Since then, Japan and PNG have been enjoying friendly and cooperative relations about four decades.

PNG is currently the largest recipient of Japan's aid among the Pacific island countries. Ministerial visits are also frequent between the two countries.

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