TOKYO: Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa agreed to boost bilateral ties during a meeting in Apia, the capital of the Pacific island country, on Saturday, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

Kamikawa told Fiame, who also serves as foreign minister, that she wants to strengthen relations of trust between Japan and Pacific island nations, including Samoa, based on shared values and principles. She became the first Japanese foreign minister to visit Samoa.

Fiame expressed her expectation for a summit of leaders from Japan and Pacific island countries to be held in Tokyo in July.

Kamikawa and Fiame signed an agreement for Japan to give 2.4 billion yen in grant aid to improve the National University of Samoa’s facilities.

The Japanese foreign minister also said that Tokyo will continue to provide sincere explanations based on scientific evidence about the discharge into the ocean of tritium-containing treated water from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.

Kamikawa also met with Samoan head of state Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II and they agreed on the importance of the rule of law.

JIJI Press