Pacific leaders to discuss big issues facing region at PALM10 in Japan

5:17 pm on 16 July 2024

On February 12 2024, commencing at 00:45 p.m. local time (9:45 a.m. on February 12 JST) for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, the 5th Interim Ministerial Meeting of the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) was held in Suva, Fiji, that is the first meeting held in a Pacific Island country. Ms. KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, attended and co-chaired the meeting with Hon. Tingika Elikana, Special Envoy for the Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Marine Resources and Parliamentary Services of Cook Islands.

The 5th Interim Ministerial Meeting of the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) was held in Suva on 12 February 2024, that is the first meeting held in a Pacific Island country. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Climate change, fisheries, development support, release of treated nuclear wastewater, as well as the ongoing New Caledonia crisis will top the agenda at the 10th Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM 10) in Tokyo this week.

Japan's Foreign Ministry confirmed to PACNEWS that fourteen leaders from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) will be attending PALM10 summit in Japan on Thursday.

Absent will be Kiribati President Taneti Maamau due to upcoming elections and New Caledonia Congress President Louis Mapou due to the political crisis in the French territory.

The previous edition of the meeting held in 2021 focused on Covid-19 response and recovery, maritime law, climate change, sustainable economic development, and people-to-people exchanges.

According to PACNEWS, the attending leaders will hold bilateral meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida over the next two days.

In February, Japan's Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa visited Fiji and Samoa in an attempt to nurture ties between Tokyo and Pacific leaders and counter China's growing influence in the region.

She attended a ministerial meeting in Fiji featuring diplomats from 18 countries and territories including New Zealand, to discuss supply line security, climate change, disaster response, and the shifting geopolitical landscape.

Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr landed in Japan with his delegation on Monday.

"The PALM process offers a valuable platform for the Pacific and Japan to discuss mutual concerns and priorities in a spirit of genuine partnership and friendship. Japan has been a steadfast partner to Palau and other countries in the Pacific," the Office of the President of Palau said.

Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is expected to arrive in Japan later on Tuesday night.

Rabuka said he was looking forward to joining PIF leaders "to further strengthen the forum's vision for a resilient Pacific region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity".

He will have a bilateral meeting with the Japanese PM on Wednesday and is anticipated to sign two memorandums of cooperation with Japan.