PNG welcomes new emperor

PAPUA New Guinea has congratulated Japan on the enthronement of the new Emperor of Japan, His Majesty Emperor Naruhito.
Speaking on behalf of the Governor-General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae at the Japanese Embassy in Port Moresby on Wednesday, Jacintia Warakai-Manua, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade acting deputy secretary policy, said PNG celebrated with Japan the accession of the new Emperor to the throne.
“Allow me to acknowledge our two countries’ enduring relationship, underpinned with friendship and strong bonds both at the government and people-to-people levels, since our two countries established diplomatic relations in 1975,” Warakai-Manua said.
Japanese Ambassador Satoshi Nakajima thanked diplomats, government representatives and those that gathered on Wednesday to celebrate the accession to the throne of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan.
“His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito succeeded to the Imperial Throne as the 126th Emperor of Japan on May 1, upon the abdication of His Majesty, Emperor Akihito on April 30,” Ambassador Nakajima said.
“With the new and young Emperor and Empress on the throne, we, Japanese, have renewed our determination for the new era.
“We are happy to hear that His Excellency Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae, Governor-General, will represent PNG at the Coronation Ceremony of the new Emperor which will be held in Tokyo in October,” Nakajima said.
“I have no doubt that the Governor-General’s attendance will add impetus to further strengthen the existing cordial relations between PNG and Japan and that greater cooperation between our two countries will ensue.”
“Emperor Naruhito, now 58-years-old, in his younger years had studied the historical development of London’s waterways and lived in a dormitory at Oxford University for two years while Empress Masako, 55-years-old, a graduate of Harvard University, was once a diplomat before their marriage.”