Philip Goff, New Zealand's foreign affairs and trade minister, will visit Japan on Sunday for talks with Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi over bilateral relations and issues pertaining to Pacific island nations, Japanese officials said.
Kawaguchi and Goff are expected to examine the progress made on an action plan adopted last May by Japan and the 16-member Pacific Islands Forum to address development and environmental protection issues.
The Pacific Islands Forum consists of Australia, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Goff will leave Japan on Wednesday.