PNG grateful for Japanese assistance

PAPUA New Guinea is grateful for the on-going generous and substantive development cooperation and technical assistance from Japan over the years towards PNG’s development efforts to improve the socio-economic conditions for our people.
And this has contributed significantly to PNG’s welfare.
These remarks were made by Governor-General Sir Paulias Matane when accepting the presentation of letters of credence by new Japanese Ambassador Hiroharu Iwasaki at the Government House on Tuesday.
Sir Paulias was pleased to note that Japan was currently the second major trading partner and that PNG continued to attract major investment from Japan in key economic sectors in recent years, especially in the energy sector, particularly in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) project.
He noted that the close diplomatic relations between our two countries was evident in the fact that Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare had visited Japan six times as prime minister and twice as minister for foreign affairs.
“Japan is likely to be a significant market in future for PNG’s LNG, commencing in 2014,” Sir Paulias said.
“Both our countries continue to cooperate at the international forum on shared interests and mutual concerns, including on urgent United Nations reforms to reflect today’s global realities that also adequately account for the development aspirations of developing countries.
“They address comprehensively climate change, issues to mitigate and adapt to the threats posed by concerns such as sea levels rise and biodiversity depletion, sustenance of peace and security, respect for human rights and on fair and free trade,” Sir Paulias said.
Meanwhile, Iwasaki relayed to the governor-general the Japanese emperor’s message to promote friendly relations between our two countries and assured his country’s continued assistance towards the development of PNG in the areas of trade, investment and tourism.
Sir Paulias said PNG also welcomed similar high level visits from Japan as a means to further solidifying relations between the two countries.
Iwasaki welcomed the invitation and assured the governor-general he would raise this matter with the government of Japan.