Japanese Navy fleet to visit PNG

A JAPANESE navy fleet with 750 officers and men is arriving in PNG this week for a goodwill visit. The visit is aimed at developing leadership skills of the newly-commissioned officers who graduated in March to promote friendly relations between Japan and PNG.

The Japanese embassy announced last week that the goodwill visit of Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSF) training squadron naval vessels was organised by the Defence Agency of Japan. The ships will visit Port Moresby on September 23-25 before visiting the Solomon Islands.

The squadron, under the command of Rear Admiral Hideki Yuasa, has over 750 officers, which includes 168 newly-commissioned officers from JMSDF Officers Candidates School.

While in port members of the squadron will be involved in a number of activities, including a visit to Parliament House and the National Museum and Art Gallery.