Japan Foreign Minister to visit Palau

 Koror- Japan Foreign Minister Taro Kono is scheduled to visit Palau on Aug. 5-7.

The official trip by Mr. Kono would be the highest Japanese government official to visit Palau to date.

In 2015, then Japan Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Palau for two days, including Peleliu, where thousands of Japanese soldiers lost their lives in one of the bloodiest battles in the second world war.

Foreign Minister Kono’s visit is part of his latest tour to the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr. Kono will be meeting with Palau officials following his visit to Fiji. According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs online information page, Mr. Kono will hold a meeting with President Tommy Remengesau in Peleliu on Aug. 6. Furthermore, FM Kono will be presenting an award to the Palau Judo Federation.

The first time visit by Foreign Minister Kono to Palau is the reason President Tommy Remengesau won’t be attending the Pohnpei meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo scheduled for early next week. Vice President Raynold Oilouch will represent Palau in the Pohnpei meeting.

President Remengesau further disclosed at a press conference yesterday that Japan’s Minister of Tokyo Olympic Games will also be visiting Palau in mid-August and because of the busy schedule, he won't be attending the PIF leaders summit in Tuvalu slated for Aug 13-16.