Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Japan-PNG (Independent State of Papua New Guinea) Summit Meeting

Prime Minister Taro Aso held talks with The Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Thomas Somare, Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea (PNG), at the Prime Minister's Office. During the talks, the leaders discussed matters such as the improvement of the investment environment, an aviation agreement, and economic cooperation.

At the beginning, Prime Minister Aso indicated his wish to further strengthen Japan-PNG relations in cooperation with Prime Minister Somare, and requested Prime Minister Somare's cooperation so as to realize fruitful talks at the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5). In response, Prime Minister Somare stated that he valued highly Japan's friendly relations with PNG, which had started prior to the independence of the country. Prime Minister Somare expressed appreciation for the invitation that he had received once again to participate in a Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting.

On the improvement of the investment environment, Prime Minister Somare stated that he was aware of Japanese companies' interest in investing in PNG, which had arisen with a view to the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG), among other factors, expressing his wish for the governments of Japan and PNG to hold close consultations. To this, Prime Minister Aso stated that Japan would dispatch a government mission in the near future for consultations.

On an aviation agreement, Prime Minister Aso explained that in response to the request by Prime Minister Somare he would give instructions to promptly convene aviation consultations in order to increase the number of direct flight from PNG to Narita Airport starting next March, from one flight a week to two flights. Prime Minister Aso also expressed his expectation for the increased direct flights to lead to the promotion of tourism between the two countries.

On economic cooperation, Prime Minister Somare stated that concentration of the population had progressed urbanization of Port Moresby, the capital of PNG, increasing the need to expand the sewage system. Prime Minister Somare requested Japan's assistance in this regard. To this, Prime Minister Aso stated that Japan, recognizing that cooperation in the area of health and sanitation is a matter of extreme importance, decided to provide a yen loan amounting to about 8.3 billion yen to the Project for Expansion of the Sewage System in Port Moresby, responding to the request that Prime Minister Somare had made on the occasion of PALM4. Prime Minister Aso also conveyed to Prime Minister Somare Japan's decision, made in consideration of the importance of developing social infrastructures, to carry out the Project for Construction of Bridges on Bougainville Coastal Trunk Road, a project with a scale of about 3 billion yen. To this, Prime Minister Somare indicated gratitude for Japan's assistance. 　

Related Link

• Japan-Papua New Guinea Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)