The two delegates traveled to Tokyo Japan on the 17th to the 22nd of June, 2009, as part of a delegation which included Senator Tommy E. Remengesau Jr. to meet with members of the Palau Parliamentary League of Japan.
Delegate Isechal says that on the 18th of June, they met with Seishiro Eto, House Ways & Means Chairman of the Japan Parliament and Masatoshi Wakabayashi, Fisheries Committee Chairman of Japan Upper House of Parliament and another member of the House of Representatives Akihiro Nishimura. The meeting took place at the Liberal Democratice Party Headquarters and was chaired by Chairman Eto. Mr. Eto expressed Japan’s continuing interests in friendly relations with the Government of Palau and its people. In its continuing efforts to assist Palau’s development with grant aid projects in the past, Japan is looking to provide funding for replacement parts of our ailing Mitsubishi power generators at Malakal or provide additional generator for Palau. Various other projects which will require funding by Japan was discussed during the meeting. Foreign Affairs Ministry also revealed that Japan has agreed for additional funds to upgrade its Palau Embassy to full Ambassadorship in the year 2010.As former President of Palau, Senator Tommy Remengesau has deeper knowledge and appreciation of Japan’s enormous grant aids that Palau has received over the past many years. He also pointed out Palau’s remaining interests in getting regular flights from Japan which will greatly benefit Palau tourism economy. Delegate Isechal thanked the Palau Parliamentary League of Japan members for hosting the occasion and reiterated that Palau has benefitted enormously from Japan grant aid projects to support economic developments in fisheries, infrastructure developments and environmental programs which have benefited his home state of Peleliu. In addition, Isechal assured Chairman Eto that he would work closely with Japanese officials to complete the repatriation of buried World War II Japan soldier remains in Peleliu State.Delegate Yangilmau, speaking as vice chair of Maritime and Fisheries Committee, assured his Japan Diet committee counterpart, Mr. Wakabayashi, that Japan and Palau Bilateral Fisheries Treaty remains as the cornerstone of strong foundation for fisheries cooperation for both countries.
