PIF-HQ, Suva, 12 February 2024—Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers and Japan have ended their 5th PALM Ministerial Interim Meeting today in Fiji, with a stronger focus on partnerships, cooperation, and support for the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent (2050 Strategy). The outcomes of their deliberations will form part of the planning and hosting of the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10), in Tokyo, from 16-18 July 2024.
The just-concluded PALM Ministerial Interim Meeting, MIM5, was co-chaired by Japan Foreign Minister H.E Yoko Kamikawa, and Cook Islands Foreign Affairs, Marine Resources and Parliamentary Services Minister Hon. Tingika Elikana on behalf of the Forum Chair.
They were joined by Foreign Ministers from Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands and Tonga, and Special Envoys of French Polynesia, New Caledonia and Vanuatu, with representatives and senior diplomats and officials from other PIF Member countries.
“PALM represents one of the first Leader-summits between a dialogue partner and the Forum family, and the ministerial mechanism ensures the PALM summits are driven by depth, commitment and the best analysis our Japan and Pacific officials can provide,” said Minister Elikana.
“I am pleased to note the reporting of outcomes from the last PALM outcomes, the attention to current and evolving global trends, and importantly, alignment with our Blue Pacific values and 2050 vision, have all helped shape a PALM10 agenda which will bring value and impact to the special partnership our region enjoys with Japan.”
The PALM-MIM5 heard a range of views around the table on the importance of working together in alignment with the 2050 Implementation Plan to strengthen collective responses to development challenges including climate change and disasters; ocean and environment; resources and economic development; nuclear, technology and connectivity; and people-centred development.
These priorities will inform the agenda for PALM10.
“The meetings this week have been a historic opportunity to share the Pacific realities faced by our people, to our Japan friends, in the context of a Forum dialogue and Pacific development partner relationship with this region which goes back many decades,” said SG Puna.
“The Japan-PIF dialogue arrangements provide a strong basis for meaningful and robust ways to strengthen relationships amongst our leaders under the 2050 Strategy, and we thank Minister Kamikawa for bringing the event to the Pacific. This, for our people is where all the words and decisions must deliver impacts and action for our Blue Pacific future.” -ENDS
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