Tonga has requested financial assistance from Japan to upgrade Fua'amotu airport.
The Prime Minister 'Akilisi Pohiva met with Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iwao Horii, and took the opportunity to raise the matter of funding for the project.
Tonga's government wants to extend the runway at Fua'amotu by 400 metres and estimates it will cost over $US17 million.
Mr Horii said his government looked forward to receiving more details through their embassy regarding the extension and also the possible renovation of the airport terminal.
The two also discussed development projects that Japan had agreed to fund through grants including a wind power generation system and a disaster risk reduction project that will cost nearly $US25 million.
The latter includes the construction of new buildings for the Tonga Broadcasting Commission.
Mr Pohiva also thanked Mr Horii for the recently opened $US29 million domestic wharf terminal that Japan assisted with.
Photo Loop Tonga. Caption: Fua'amotu airport