Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and leaders of three Pacific island countries agreed Tuesday to cooperate for the success of a Japan-Pacific island nations' summit this weekend in Okinawa.
Noda met separately with Micronesian President Emanuel Mori, Palau President Johnson Toribiong and Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi. All are in Japan to attend the two-day summit of Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum in the city of Nago, which starts Friday.
Noda told Mori that he hopes to strengthen the bonds between Japan and Micronesia after receiving a gift from Micronesia that consisted of two connected ropes as a sign of friendship.
Mori was quoted by the Foreign Ministry as expressing his gratitude for Japanese official development assistance in a project for Pohnpei International Airport's runway extension. Toribiong thanked Noda for Japan providing four generators to Palau to help boost the power supply in his country, the ministry said.