Japan pledged Wednesday to provide Samoa with a passenger-cargo ship to help the Pacific island nation improve its transportation, as part of Tokyo's initiative to realize a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific."
Under an agreement reached during Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi's visit to Japan, Tokyo will provide ¥2.5 billion ($23 million) in grant aid to build the ship.
The visit coincided with the Rugby World Cup. Japan is set to play Samoa on Saturday in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture.