Prime Minister Hon. James Marape today returned from Tokyo, Japan, where he attended the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) from July 16 to 18.
Apart from the main PALM10 meeting, Prime Minister Marape also held bilateral meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Hon. Fumio Kishida, as well as leaders of other Pacific countries.
“We were personally invited by Prime Minister Kishida, given that Papua New Guinea is the biggest nation in the Pacific by virtue of our population, size of our economy and our land mass,” Prime Minister Marape said.
“Given that, the challenges that we face are unique, given that we are not a small island state but a large one with over 600 islands and more than 800 languages.
“We were given the earliest opportunity to have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Kishida which, in my view, had very fruitful outcomes for both Japan and PNG.”
Prime Minister Marape said both leaders agreed that the last 49 years have been of mutual benefit to both countries.
“Papua New Guinea, over the last 49 years, has received over K6 billion in grants and development assistance from Japan,” he said.
“Japan is one of the top importers of PNG produce, so in that context, we must respect Japan as they import more from us than we import from them.
“One thing Prime Minister Kishida and I agreed is that Japan-PNG relations going forward, especially with PNG’s 50th independence anniversary next year, will enter a new framework.
“PNG’s expectations are that as we continue into the future, we will not be dependent on Japanese aid, but will focus on increased trade. Our foreign missions, including in Japan, will have trade and investment promotion officers, which is why International Trade and Investment Minister Hon. Richard Maru, Agriculture Minister Hon. John Boito, and Fisheries Minister Hon. Jelta Wong have been involved in discussions with their Japanese counterparts.
“We put it to Japan that our economy is making a transition from being an exporter of raw produce to downstream processing. This is a first step towards PNG becoming a manufacturing hub. Japan is an advanced manufacturer, so we’ve asked for Japanese companies, especially those involved in manufacturing of agriculture, fisheries, oil, gas, minerals, and others, to come into PNG.”
Prime Minister Marape said the conversation also focused on the transition to clean energy with PNG having the potential to supply this to Japan. He said there is also the potential of Japan supplying electric vehicles and other such equipment to PNG, especially given that Japan is a world leader in this.
“I also met with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and thanked them for the K6 billion assistance rendered to PNG over the last 50 years, the first being the National Fisheries College in Kavieng,” he said.
“We agreed that JICA and PNG government officials will meet to discuss how to go about into the future with projects like Tokua Airport Redevelopment in East New Britain and Wewak Airport Terminal Development – with a view to Japanese visitation, with the remains of hundreds of Japanese soldiers of World War II remaining in East New Britain and East Sepik.”
Prime Minister Marape said there were also discussions on Air Niugini reviving its Port Moresby- Narita service via Palau.
The Prime Minister, apart from this, also had bilateral discussions with leaders of Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Palau, Nauru, Niue, and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretary-General.