The 10th Pacific Islands Leaders’ Meeting (PALM 10) was held in Tokyo from July 16 (Tuesday) to July 18 (Thursday), marking the 10th time the summit has been held. The Pacific Islands Summit has been held every three years since 1997, and was attended by the heads of state and government of 19 countries and regions, including 14 Pacific island countries, two French territories, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, as well as the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).
For more than 50 years, JICA has been deepening its dialogue with Pacific island countries and cooperating with them in various areas of development in the region, including climate change, human resource development, economic infrastructure development, health care and education. During the meeting, JICA co-hosted a side event entitled “Kizuna between Oceania and Japan through Human Resource Development” with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and President Tanaka met with the leaders of Pacific island countries and the PIF Executive Director to exchange views on future cooperation possibilities.
Communicated the role and importance of human exchange and human resource development in Pacific island countries and regions through the side event “Kizuna between Oceania and Japan through Human Resource Development”.
At the side event held on Wednesday, July 17, President Tanaka opened the event by noting that the human exchange between Japan and the Pacific island countries to date has led to the building of a special relationship, expressed in the word “kizuna” by the leaders of each country, and stressed the importance of deepening friendship and bilateral relations between Japan and the Pacific island countries through such human exchange and cooperation. He stressed the importance of deepening friendship and bilateral relations between Japan and Pacific island countries through such people-to-people cooperation. He also expressed his hope that the capacity and knowledge gained from this cooperation will not only contribute to the development of Pacific island countries and communities, but will also be an example of “co-creation” that will lead to solutions to the challenges Japan is facing.
The next three speakers were Mr. Mangisi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Tonga to Japan, who has studied at Ritsumeikan University and Osaka University in Japan, Mr. Masao Suzuki of Toshiba Corporation, who served in Vanuatu from 2002 to 2004 as a JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteer and has continued to develop projects in Vanuatu since then, and Mr. Koji Kuroiwa of the Japan Meteorological Society, who is based in Fiji and has been cooperating with the Pacific region in the field of meteorology as a JICA expert since 1992. Mr. Masao Suzuki of Toshiba Corporation, who served in Vanuatu from 2002 to 2004 as a JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteer, and Mr. Koji Kuroiwa of the Japan Weather Association, who has been working as a JICA expert in the field of meteorology in the Pacific region since 1992, all of whom are based in Fiji. They also made presentations on their contributions to the mutual challenges of the two countries.
The event concluded with comments from Mr. Wanga, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), who himself has participated in JICA training programs, and remarks from Mr. Masahiro Takamura, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, followed by a commemorative photo session with the leaders and ambassadors in attendance.
Speech by President Tanaka Group photo with speakers and representatives from Oceania
Exchanges with former Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers at the welcome reception hosted by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi and his wife
At the welcome reception hosted by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi and his wife on Tuesday, July 16, JICA’s cooperation in Oceania was displayed on panels along with video messages from Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) currently deployed in the region, explaining to visitors the seven priority areas of the long-term development strategy “2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent” (hereinafter “2050 Strategy”) announced by Pacific island countries in 2022 as a common regional development strategy. JICA’s cooperation in the Pacific region was displayed on panels and explained to visitors along with a video message from a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer (JOCV) member currently deployed in the region. In addition, 10 former members of JICA’s Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, who were dispatched to 10 of the 14 Pacific island countries to which JICA dispatches its Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, joined President Tanaka at the JICA booth to meet with the leaders of the countries.
President of Palau (right) and former JOCV members dispatched to Palau (left) Prime Minister of Tonga (left), Ambassador to Tokyo (back center) and former JOCV members dispatched to Tonga (right) Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (left) and former JOCV members dispatched to Papua New Guinea (right)
President Tanaka’s Meeting with Leaders of Countries in the Oceania Region
During the meeting from Tuesday, July 16 to Thursday, July 18, President Tanaka also met with leaders and dignitaries from 14 Pacific island countries and the PIF Director General to exchange views on the potential for future cooperation in the Pacific region and expectations for JICA.
Cook Islands: President Brown Federated States of Micronesia: President Simina Fiji: Prime Minister Rambuka
Kiribati: Italaela, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Nauru: President Adean Niue: Prime Minister Tangelangi
Palau: President Whipps Papua New Guinea: Prime Minister Malape Marshall Islands: President Heine
Samoa: Prime Minister Fiamé Solomon Islands: Prime Minister Manele Tonga: Prime Minister Huakavameiliku
Tuvalu: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Labor and Trade, Panapa Vanuatu: Prime Minister Salwai PIF Secretariat: Director General Wanga
At the end of the meeting, the 10th Pacific and Pacific Island Summit (PALM 10) Leaders’ Declaration and its annex, the 10th PALM 10 Joint Action Plan, were adopted. The “Tenth Pacific Islands Summit (PALM 10) Joint Plan of Action” was adopted. The “Pacific Climate Change Resilience Initiative,” which is a new initiative by Japan in the field of climate change that island countries place importance on, has three pillars: (1) strengthening disaster prevention and response capabilities, (2) promoting clean energy, and (3) encouraging island countries’ own initiatives.
JICA will continue to work as a partner in connecting Japan and the Pacific region to solve problems in the region.
© Source JICA
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