Marape pays tribute to assassinated ex-Japanese PM

PRIME Minister James Marape has paid tribute to assassinated former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, saying he did so much to help Papua New Guinea when he was in office.
“Relationships between Japan and PNG were very strong when Abe was prime minister,” he said.
“Abe visited PNG in 2014 and in 2018 (for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby).
“Japan was the first buyer of LNG from PNG in 2014 under Abe’s leadership. Abe strengthened the Pacific Islands Leaders’ Meeting (PALM) process, took PNG into the G7 and strengthened our role in Apec.
“He was instrumental in signing the K4 billion electrification partnership with the US, Australia and New Zealand to provide electricity to 70 per cent of PNG’s rural population by 2030.”
Abe was accorded a state funeral in Tokyo attended by world mourners, including Australian PM Anthony Albanese, Indian PM Narendra Modi, Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and US Vice-President Kamala Harris.
Abe was gunned down on July 8 while delivering a campaign speech in the western city of Nara.
Marape said PNG had benefitted so much from Japan under Abe.
“Japan, as a friend of PNG since the 1970s, has provided long-term assistance to PNG through development assistance in socio-economic and human resources development,” he said.
Marape said a loan from Japan helped PNG “finance our K19.6 billion 2021 national budget, repay our debts and stabilise the economy”.