SEPTEMBER 27 2022
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says he is privileged to have met Japanese Prime Minister Hon. Fumio Kishida in Tokyo today (Tuesday, September 27, 2022) before the state funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
PM Marape, one of many world leaders attending Abe’s funeral, had a bilateral meeting with PM Kishida at Akasaka Palace this morning.
He was accompanied by International Trade and Investment Minister Hon. Richard Maru, East Sepik Governor Hon. Allan Bird and Papua New Guinea Ambassador to Japan H.E. Samuel Abal
The Prime Minister, who is in Tokyo for a day before leaving for Washington DC to attend the Pacific Islands’ Summit, also met with executives of three top energy companies – Sojitz, JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corporation and LNG Japan Corporation.
He also met Japan Development Institute (JDI) CEO and Chairman Dr Shoichi Kobayashi to progress the special economic zone (SEZ) concept in PNG.
“Today was just a short, one-day visit to Japan for me, but very important in consolidating relations between our two countries,” PM Marape said after the meeting.
“There are 191 world leaders here today to attend the State Funeral of the late Shinzo Abe, and for PNG to have been accorded the honor of meeting Japanese Prime Minister Kishida is very special.
“Today is a day of mourning, however, for Prime Minister Kishida to invite us to meet him shows the respect that Japan has for PNG.”
“Japan and PNG have a very strong bilateral relationship which goes way before our independence in 1975.
“Prime Minister Kishida, during our discussions, highlighted Japan’s need for energy security as well as the need for trade between our two countries to grow.
“He highlighted the fact that PNG is an important bilateral partner of Japan.
“I have invited Prime Minister Kishida to visit PNG and I will reciprocate with a visit to Japan.
“Japan is currently involved in several major projects in PNG, including Nadzab Airport, and several others.
“The late Abe, when he was prime minister, approved for US$280 million to come to us for which we as a nation are so grateful.”
PM Marape said PNG would reciprocate by ensuring that outstanding trade treaties between the two countries were resumed
“I assured Prime Minister Kishida that PNG can help Japan’s energy security needs with a continuous supply of LNG,” he said.
“I assured him that if there are any additional gas fields to be developed, Japan would be given priority in developing these, which I discussed later with Sojitz, JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corporation and LNG Japan Corporation.
“I have also invited these companies to be involved in downstream processing of our LNG resources in PNG.”
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