Mr. Elian Rahuromo WOHENG, the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Independent State of Papua New Guinea, visited the Hiroshima Peacebuilders Center (HPC) and held discussions with the HPC Director, Dr. Hideaki Shinoda.

On Wednesday 21st December, Mr.Woheng came to the HPC office in Hiroshima and held meaningful discussions with the HPC Director, Dr. Shinoda.

During the dialogue, Mr. Woheng mentioned that “Papua New Guinea attaches high importance to peace and cooperation, and noted that Hiroshima is a globally recognized symbol of peace and reconstruction.” He then added, “HPC, which implements The Program for Global Human Resource Development for Peacebuilding and Development commissioned by MOFA Japan has a crucial role to play in Japan’s policy on peacebuilding.”

 

In response, Dr. Shinoda replied, “participants from various countries of the world can learn peacebuilding and development based on the history of Hiroshima. Hiroshima is indeed the symbol of reconstruction, he added.

 

A participant from Papua New Guinea has joined the Primary Course of the Program in the past and the Program will host another participant this year.

Two Japanese participants are currently being deployed to UNICEF in Papua New Guinea as United Nations Volunteers.

 

In anticipation of the G7 meeting scheduled for Hiroshima on May 10-21, 2023, strengthening solidarity between Japan and Papua New Guinea would be of considerable value in contributing to the “Free and Open Indo-Pacific strategy (FOIP)” in peacebuilding and Development.