JULY 9 2022
Prime Minister Hon. James Marape says Papua New Guinea is saddened at the death of former Japanese Prime Minister Hon. Shinzo Abe.
He said PNG, and the world, was shocked at the shooting of Abe while campaigning in Japan on Friday.
PM Marape said PNG had benefitted so much from Japan during the term of office of Abe, including the PNG Electrification Partnership that was signed at the APEC Summit in Port Moresby in 2018, and many more projects such as the Nadzab Airport Development in Morobe.
“Relationships between Japan and PNG were very strong during the time of Abe as Prime Minister of Japan,” he said.
“Abe visited PNG two times – in 2014 and for APEC in 2018 – and relationships between our two countries reached a high.
“Japan was the first buyer of LNG from Japan in 2014 under the leadership of Abe and I, representing my people of Tari-Pori and as Finance Minister, was present for that momentous occasion.
“Abe strengthened the Pacific Islands Leaders’ Meeting (PALM) process, brought PNG into the G7 and strengthened our role in APEC.
“He was instrumental in signing the K4 billion PNG Electrification Partnership with USA, Australia and New Zealand during APEC 2018 that will deliver electricity to 70 per cent of PNG’s rural population by 2030.
“Japan has been supporting self-reliance and sustainable development of PNG through Official Development Assistance (ODA) in areas such as infrastructure development and maintenance, education and medical care, cooperation for the improvement of agriculture and other sectors, and cooperation for improvement of the sewage disposal system and forest preservation.
“Japan, as a friend of PNG since the 1970s, has provided long-term assistance to PNG to this country through development assistance in socio-economic and human resources development, high-level mutual visits and international conferences such as PALM.”
PM Marape said Abe set the foundation for stronger Japan-PNG relations, and even after he vacated office in 2020, PNG continued to benefit from Japan during COVID-19 and a K1 billion concessional loan in 2021.
“The Japanese loan has helped PNG to finance our K19.6 billion 2021 National Budget, repay our debts and stabilise the economy,” he said.
“This came about because of the strong relationship between our two countries forged by Abe.
“Papua New Guinea is saddened at the loss of our great friend, Hon. Shinzo Abe, and join with the rest of the world in mourning his untimely passing.
“May God Bless his family and Japan at this sad time.”
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