The 18 members of the Pacific Islands Forum came together with the Government of Japan to strengthen our shared partnership from 16-18 July, 2024. The 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) was held in Tokyo, and Leaders have endorsed the PALM10 Declaration and Joint Action Plan.
Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and Forum Chair Mark Brown said the PALM platform is integral to the Pacific region’s partnership with Japan. “Almost 30 years since the first PALM, we continue to value the opportunity to discuss our concerns and priorities based on our mutual commitment to effective, open and honest partnership. The PALM10 Declaration reflects our shared priorities and commitments.”
He continued, “as Leaders of the Pacific, we will work as one united region. We seek partners who want to work with us through our systems; understand us from our vantage point; and most importantly, align and commit themselves to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and its Implementation Plan.”
The partnership with Japan will address key areas of cooperation, in particular climate change, which remains the single greatest existential threat to the Blue Pacific.
PIF Leaders welcomed Japan’s support at the international level on issues including:
• securing the legal certainty of the Blue Pacific by Preserving Maritime Zones in the face of Climate Change-related Sea-level Rise
• the conservation and sustainable use of Marine Biological Diversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction
• addressing marine pollution, including through the development of an ambitious international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.
The Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) is a Pacific-owned and led climate and disaster risk financing solution for vulnerable communities. “We welcome Japan’s indication that they are considering a contribution to the Pacific Resilience Facility, but we encourage Japan to confirm earlier rather than later” said Forum Chair Mark Brown.
Leaders discussed the discharge of ALPS treated water into the Pacific Ocean from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Recognizing their shared commitment to safeguarding the Pacific region, PIF Leaders acknowledged the Government of Japan’s assurances to continue to provide sincere explanations to Pacific Island Countries based on scientific evidence in a way that is highly transparent, and to never approve the discharge in a manner that endangers well-being, livelihoods, human health or the marine environment.
The Government of Japan will continue working closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and has decided to contribute to the development of regional scientific capacity through the IAEA. PIF Leaders requested this assistance be delivered through engagement by the IAEA in the region.
To realise the potential of Pacific people and resources, the partnership will address economic challenges including correspondent banking relationships and strengthening investment and trade links, including through a Pacific-Japan Investment Seminar later this year.
Fisheries are a key resource, and Leaders continued to urge partners to support resource development efforts such as the East New Britain Initiative. It is another Pacific-led solution which will enhance the benefits from tuna fisheries by establishing collective and inclusive investment pathways.
Japan’s strengths and long-standing record of cooperation in technology and connectivity will support PIF ambitions for a well-connected region with enhanced systems and services in line with the Lagatoi Declaration on Digital Transformation of the Pacific.
PIF Leaders recognise that despite great progress and investments to improve Pacific health and education outcomes, much more needs to be done. Japan is a long-standing partner in this area, contributing capacity building, peer-to-peer learning, scholarships and technical knowledge, and this partnership will build on this.
Forum Chair Mark Brown expressed his appreciation to the Government of Japan for hosting Forum Leaders and said “let us ensure our joint efforts support improved development outcomes for our island communities”.
Read the PALM10 Declaration and Action Plan here.
