PALM5 opens in Hokkaido, Japan
PRESS STATEMENT(28/09)
Friday 22nd May 2009
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM GRATEFUL FOR JAPAN’S COMMITMENT TO THE REGION
Member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum have commended Japan for its continued support and commitment towards the development initiatives of the region as the 5th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting with Japan (PALM5) opened in the Japanese northern island of Hokkaido this evening.
In his statement at the opening of the meeting, Chair of the Forum and Premier of Niue, Hon. Toke Talagi said: “We are grateful to the Government of Japan for remaining to be a significant development and trade partner to the Pacific region and look forward to your continued support to our development efforts through bilateral and regional channels that we have established over the past years.”
“Japan’s commitment to aligning its support to the Pacific Plan is well recognized and very important to our regional integration and development efforts. Our regional priorities articulated in the Plan are a synthesis of our collective national needs and aspirations,” Mr Talagi said.
“I encourage the Government of Japan and our other development partners to continue to align their future development assistance plans with the Pacific Plan at the regional level and bilaterally on the basis of our respective national development plans.”
The Forum Chair, Hon. Talagi said: “As we move to establish a renewed political commitment in a number of areas, including climate change and sustainable development, building resilience to our vulnerabilities, and fostering exchange between out cultures, we must be cognizant of the realities faced by all parties particularly in light of the global economic crisis.
“The global credit crunch has compounded many of the existing challenges we face. However, we must endeavour to see these challenges in a positive light and learn from these lessons to ensure a more resilient future,” said Mr Talagi.
Premier Talagi will co-chair the two-day meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan, Hon. Taro Aso. The key outcomes of PALM 5 will be conveyed through the Leaders’ Declaration at the end of the meeting tomorrow.
The inaugural PALM Summit was held in 1997 with the objectives of enhancing relations between Japan and Pacific island countries taking into account global developments impacting on the development and economic prosperity of island countries and how Japan can effectively contribute to that prosperity;; the importance given by Japan to issues of sustainable development for island countries; and further strengthening relations between the Pacific and Japan which had grown steadily over the years. Subsequent Summits were held in 2000, 2003 and 2006:
The Okinawa Initiative and Okinawa Partnership have been key outcomes of previous PALM’s and have formed the basis of Japan’s development assistance to the region. Japan’s Assistance Plan over the last 3 years is consistent with the Pacific Plan and amounts to around 45 billion yen. A major portion of the assistance has been in the form of grants to PIF Members. Emphasis has been given to bilateral assistance; capacity building and human resource development; and people to people communication and exchange.
ENDS.
For more information on PALM5 contact Mr Rick Nimmo, the Forum Secretariat’s Director, Political Governance and Security Programme on email: nimmor@yahoo.com or rickn@forumsec.org.fj
Friday 22nd May 2009
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM GRATEFUL FOR JAPAN’S COMMITMENT TO THE REGION
Member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum have commended Japan for its continued support and commitment towards the development initiatives of the region as the 5th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting with Japan (PALM5) opened in the Japanese northern island of Hokkaido this evening.
In his statement at the opening of the meeting, Chair of the Forum and Premier of Niue, Hon. Toke Talagi said: “We are grateful to the Government of Japan for remaining to be a significant development and trade partner to the Pacific region and look forward to your continued support to our development efforts through bilateral and regional channels that we have established over the past years.”
“Japan’s commitment to aligning its support to the Pacific Plan is well recognized and very important to our regional integration and development efforts. Our regional priorities articulated in the Plan are a synthesis of our collective national needs and aspirations,” Mr Talagi said.
“I encourage the Government of Japan and our other development partners to continue to align their future development assistance plans with the Pacific Plan at the regional level and bilaterally on the basis of our respective national development plans.”
The Forum Chair, Hon. Talagi said: “As we move to establish a renewed political commitment in a number of areas, including climate change and sustainable development, building resilience to our vulnerabilities, and fostering exchange between out cultures, we must be cognizant of the realities faced by all parties particularly in light of the global economic crisis.
“The global credit crunch has compounded many of the existing challenges we face. However, we must endeavour to see these challenges in a positive light and learn from these lessons to ensure a more resilient future,” said Mr Talagi.
Premier Talagi will co-chair the two-day meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan, Hon. Taro Aso. The key outcomes of PALM 5 will be conveyed through the Leaders’ Declaration at the end of the meeting tomorrow.
The inaugural PALM Summit was held in 1997 with the objectives of enhancing relations between Japan and Pacific island countries taking into account global developments impacting on the development and economic prosperity of island countries and how Japan can effectively contribute to that prosperity;; the importance given by Japan to issues of sustainable development for island countries; and further strengthening relations between the Pacific and Japan which had grown steadily over the years. Subsequent Summits were held in 2000, 2003 and 2006:
The Okinawa Initiative and Okinawa Partnership have been key outcomes of previous PALM’s and have formed the basis of Japan’s development assistance to the region. Japan’s Assistance Plan over the last 3 years is consistent with the Pacific Plan and amounts to around 45 billion yen. A major portion of the assistance has been in the form of grants to PIF Members. Emphasis has been given to bilateral assistance; capacity building and human resource development; and people to people communication and exchange.
ENDS.
For more information on PALM5 contact Mr Rick Nimmo, the Forum Secretariat’s Director, Political Governance and Security Programme on email: nimmor@yahoo.com or rickn@forumsec.org.fj
