President Simina Meets with Japanese Parliamentarians
2026/10/26
His Excellency Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), paid an official working visit to Japan from October 20 to 24. On October 22, President Simina held a meeting with members of FSM–Japan Parliamentary Friendship League, led by its Chairman Keiji Furuya, and Ambassador Kagomiya also attended.
President Simina expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation of Japan (OFCF) for their long-standing contributions to the development of the FSM. He highlighted the progress of the Pohnpei Port Expansion Project, being carried out with Japanese assistance, and expressed high expectations for continued support in various areas, including maritime transportation.
Furthermore, the President emphasized his desire to foster diverse exchanges not only at the governmental level but also at the grassroots level. He expressed a strong commitment to strengthening ties with the Friendship League and noted the FSM’s participation in the International Horticultural Expo (GREEN×EXPO 2027) to be held in Yokohama next year.
Chairman Furuya and the other Japanese diet members warmly welcomed the President to Japan. They expressed their determination to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, with a view toward next year’s Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM11), as well as to promote exchanges between local governments and people-to-people ties among youth and children.
The meeting was attended by the following members from the Parliamentary Friendship League: Chairman Keiji Furuya, Mr. Hisayuki Fujii (Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications), Mr. Masanao Ozaki (Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary), Mr. Kiyoshi Igarashi, and Mr. Shinichiro Kawamatsu. From the FSM side, participants included President Simina, Secretary Ricky Cantero (Department of Foreign Affairs), and Ambassador of the FSM to Japan President Simina expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government of Japan, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation of Japan (OFCF) for their long-standing contributions to the development of the FSM. He highlighted the progress of the Pohnpei Port Expansion Project, being carried out with Japanese assistance, and expressed high expectations for continued support in various areas, including maritime transportation.
Furthermore, the President emphasized his desire to foster diverse exchanges not only at the governmental level but also at the grassroots level. He expressed a strong commitment to strengthening ties with the Friendship League and noted the FSM’s participation in the International Horticultural Expo (GREEN×EXPO 2027) to be held in Yokohama next year.
Chairman Furuya and the other Japanese diet members warmly welcomed the President to Japan. They expressed their determination to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, with a view toward next year’s Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM11), as well as to promote exchanges between local governments and people-to-people ties among youth and children.
Group photo （From the left: Ambassador Kagomiya, Mr. Kawamatsu, Mr. Igarashi, Minister Fujii, Chairman Furuya, President Simina, (unnamed), Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Ozaki, (unnamed), Secretary Cantero,and Ambassador Fritz）
During the meeting
During the meeting