PNG PRIME MINISTER JOINS WORLD LEADERS IN FAREWELLING FORMER JAPANSE PRIME MINISTER SHINZO ABE

By Sunday Bulletin - 28th September 2022.

PM MARAPE JOINS WORLD LEADERS IN FAREWELLING FORMER JAPANSE PM SHINZO ABE

Prime Minister Hon. James Marape today (Tuesday, September 27, 2022) joined world leaders in farewelling assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a state funeral in Tokyo.

PM Marape joined about 4000 mourners – including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (whom he travelled with to Tokyo on Monday night in an Australian military plane), Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino, and United States Vice President Kamala Harris – attended today’s ceremony for Abe, who was gunned down on July 8 while delivering a campaign speech in the western city of Nara.

Accompanying PM Marape were International Trade and Investment Minister Hon. Richard Maru, East Sepik Governor Hon. Allan Bird and PNG Ambassador to Japan H.E. Samuel Abal.

Japan’s close relationship with PNG was epitomised on a giant screen with video footage of Abe and Sir Michael Somare during a visit to East Sepik.

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.”

Today’s event began at 2pm (3pm PNG Time) with the Japan Self-Defense Forces firing 19 shots in honour of Japan’s longest-serving prime minister as his wife, Akie Abe, carried his ashes into Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan hall.

A military band played the national anthem and soldiers dressed in white uniforms took Abe’s ashes and placed them on a pedestal decorated with yellow and white chrysanthemum flowers.

Attendants observed a moment of silence for Abe.

Outside, in a nearby park, thousands of Japanese people queued to offer floral tributes to the slain politician, some waiting for hours.

In a 12-minute eulogy for Abe, Japanese Prime Minister Hon.Fumio Kishida praised his late mentor as an inspiring politician with a clear vision for post-war economic growth and development of Japan and the world, as well as promoting the concept of a “free and open Indo-Pacific” as a counter to China’s rise.

Looking up at a large photo of a smiling Abe, Kishida said the loss came too soon.

“You were a person who should have lived much longer,” Kishida said.

“I had a firm belief that you were to contribute as a compass to show the future direction of Japan and the rest of the world for 10 or 20 more years.”

The state funeral for Abe, who received a private funeral days after his assassination, was the first for an ex-premier since former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida in 1967.