TOP > What's up around the Prime Minister > March, 2008

Japan-Tonga Summit Meeting Thursday, March 27, 2008 JAPANESE

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met with Mr. Feleti Vaka'uta Sevele, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga, at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Fukuda said, "Japan's Imperial Family and Tonga's Royal Family enjoy close friendly relations. The two countries also see active exchanges in the private sector through sports such as sumo and rugby. We intend to further strengthen relations with Tonga." At the meeting, Prime Minister Fukuda spoke about the Okinawa Partnership, which was announced on the occasion of the 4th Pacific Islands Leaders' Meeting (PALM) that was held in Japan in May of 2006. He said that Japan would continue to closely cooperate with island countries through measures such as assistance toward exerting their ownership of their economic growth. To this, Prime Minister Sevele stated that he placed importance on strengthening of relations with Japan, and intended to cooperate with Japan. Prime Minister Sevele also highly evaluated the Japanese government's efforts to tackle environmental issues, and said that he would like to actively support Japan's initiatives, in particular the Cool Earth Promotion Programme. Related link: Japan-Tonga Relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan)