Top > What's up around the Prime Minister > February, 2005

Japan-Papua New Guinea Summit Meeting Monday, February 14, 2005 Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held a meeting with Mr. Michael Somare, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea at the Prime Minister's Official Residence. At the beginning of the meeting, Prime Minister Koizumi asked whether Papua New Guinea incurred damages from the earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Sumatra Island, to which Prime Minister Somare responded by saying, "We did not incur any damage from the disaster this time. Papua New Guinea, however, suffered great damage in 1998 from an earthquake in the sea off the country, and we are grateful for the assistance provided by the disaster relief team from Japan, cooperating with similar teams from the locality and Australia on that occasion." Prime Minister Koizumi then noted that the lack of awareness by many people of the true danger and destructiveness of earthquakes and tsunami was considered a major cause of amplifying the damage from the disaster off the coast of Sumatra Island this time, and thus it was important for people to learn about the true threat of such a disaster. Prime Minister Somare also expressed his gratitude for the cooperation provided by Japan, saying, "2005 is an important year as it marks the 30th anniversary since the foundation of our country. Since our independence, Japan has throughout the years been a great donor country to us, second only to Australia. We consider Japan a country that has been contributing to the economic development of Papua New Guinea." Prime Minister Somare also explained about the development of natural gas and cultivation of rice in some regions of Papua New Guinea with cooperation provided by Japan. Prime Minister Koizumi said, "It is vital to be self-sufficient in food production as much as possible. Japan intends to cooperate with Papua New Guinea on such efforts."