The 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10)

The commemorative 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) was held in Tokyo from Tuesday, July 16 to Thursday, July 18. The Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, which has been held every three years since 1997, was attended by the leaders of 19 countries and regions, including the 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs), two French territories, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, as well as the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).

JICA has engaged in deepening dialog with Pacific countries for more than 50 years, cooperating in areas such as climate change, human resource development, economic infrastructure development, healthcare, and education to support the region’s development. During the summit, JICA co-hosted a side event with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs entitled “KIZUNA between Pacific Island Countries and Japan through People-to-People Exchange,” where JICA President Tanaka Akihiko met with the leaders of the PICs and the PIF Secretary General, exchanging views on possibilities for future cooperation.

At the opening of the side event held on Wednesday, July 17, President Tanaka emphasized the special relationships built between Japan and PICs through interpersonal exchanges, often referred to as “kizuna” (bonds) by PALM Leaders. Underlining the importance of deepening friendly and bilateral relations between Japan and PICs through such exchange, he expressed hope that the capabilities and knowledge cultivated through cooperation might serve as examples of “co-creation”, not only contributing to the development of countries and communities in the Pacific region, but also leading to solutions for Japan’s future.
Subsequently, examples of human interactions and human resource development between Japan and PICs were introduced. Speakers included H.E. Dr. T. Suka Mangisi, Chair of Pacific Island Countries Ambassadorial Group (PICAG) and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Tonga, who studied at Japan’s Ritsumeikan and Osaka Universities; Suzuki Masao of Toshiba Co., who served as one of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) in Vanuatu from 2002 to 2004 and continues to develop projects there; and Kuroiwa Koji of the Japan Weather Association, a JICA expert based in Fiji and who has supported the Pacific region in meteorology since 1992. Each speaker presented their activities and contributions to the long-standing relationship of mutual trust and solving issues in both Japan and PICs.
The event concluded with speeches from PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa, a former participant of JICA training program, and Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Komura Masahiro, as well as commemorative photographs with attending leaders, ambassadors, and representative figures, reaffirming the “kizuna” (bonds) among participants.

A welcome reception was hosted by Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi Yoshimasa and his wife, Dr. Hayashi Yuko on Tuesday, July 16. Panel displays aligned with the seven priority areas of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent (hereafter “2050 Strategy”), a shared long-term development strategy for the Pacific region, showcased JICA’s cooperation, with video messages from volunteers from the JOCV program currently dispatched overseas also shared. Additionally, ten former volunteers, who had been dispatched to 10 of the 14 PICs, met with country leaders at the JICA booth alongside President Tanaka.

At the PALM10 summit from Tuesday, July 16, to Thursday, July 18, President Tanaka met with leaders and dignitaries from the 14 PICs and the PIF Secretary General, exchanging views on possibilities for future cooperation in the Pacific region and expectations for JICA’s role.

At PALM10, discussions between leaders focused on “striding forward together” in their partnership over the next 30 years and realizing the 2050 Strategy. The summit concluded with the adoption of the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) Leaders’ Declaration and adjoined PALM10 Joint Action Plan. The Pacific Climate Resilience Initiative, a new Japanese initiative to tackle climate change, an area of vital importance to PICs, was also launched, centered around three main pillars: (1) strengthening disaster risk reduction and response capabilities, (2) promoting clean energy, and (3) supporting Pacific-led efforts.

JICA remains committed to bridging Japan and the Pacific region, continuing to serve as a partner in finding solutions to the region’s challenges.