PIF Leaders meet on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido for PALM5
PRESS STATEMENT (26/09)
21st May 2009
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM LEADERS GATHER IN JAPAN FOR PALM5
Pacific Islands Forum Leaders have started arriving in Japan for their 5th meeting with Japan known as the Pacific Alliance of Leaders Meeting (PALM 5) which will be held on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido 22 – 23 May 2009.
“We are fully committed to strengthening this long standing partnership and friendship between Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum, towards a shared common destiny for peace, security and prosperity for all our people,” says Hon. Toke Talagi, Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Premier of Niue. Mr Talagi will jointly chair the meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan, Hon. Taro Aso.
Issues to be discussed during PALM 5 will include environment and climate change; building resilience against the vulnerabilities faced by Pacific island countries; and fostering exchange between the cultures of the Pacific island countries and that of Japan.
The key outcomes of PALM 5 will be conveyed through the Leaders’ Declaration at the end of the meeting on 23 May.
Other activities leading up to PALM 5 includes a Pacific Island Leaders and Japan Roundtable on Water and Sanitation, opening of the Pacific Island Center at Meiji University and the Pacific Island Exhibition. All these other activities will be held in Tokyo.
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 Ms Coral Pasisi the Forum Secretariat’s Regional and International Issues Adviser on phone 679 331 2600 or email coralp@forumsec.org.fj .
21st May 2009
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM LEADERS GATHER IN JAPAN FOR PALM5
Pacific Islands Forum Leaders have started arriving in Japan for their 5th meeting with Japan known as the Pacific Alliance of Leaders Meeting (PALM 5) which will be held on Japan's northern island of Hokkaido 22 – 23 May 2009.
“We are fully committed to strengthening this long standing partnership and friendship between Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum, towards a shared common destiny for peace, security and prosperity for all our people,” says Hon. Toke Talagi, Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum and Premier of Niue. Mr Talagi will jointly chair the meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan, Hon. Taro Aso.
Issues to be discussed during PALM 5 will include environment and climate change; building resilience against the vulnerabilities faced by Pacific island countries; and fostering exchange between the cultures of the Pacific island countries and that of Japan.
The key outcomes of PALM 5 will be conveyed through the Leaders’ Declaration at the end of the meeting on 23 May.
Other activities leading up to PALM 5 includes a Pacific Island Leaders and Japan Roundtable on Water and Sanitation, opening of the Pacific Island Center at Meiji University and the Pacific Island Exhibition. All these other activities will be held in Tokyo.
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 Ms Coral Pasisi the Forum Secretariat’s Regional and International Issues Adviser on phone 679 331 2600 or email coralp@forumsec.org.fj .
