Top > Regional Affairs > Pacific > PIF > Attendance at 14th Post-Forum Dialogue Meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum and Visit to Papua New Guinea by Mr. Shigeo Uetake, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs (Outline and Evaluation)

Attendance at 14th Post-Forum Dialogue Meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum and Visit to Papua New Guinea by Mr. Shigeo Uetake, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs
(Outline and Evaluation)

August 27, 2002

MAIN POINTS

  • From August 18 to 25, Mr. Shigeo Uetake, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs visited the Republic of the Fiji Islands and Papua New Guinea.
  • On August 20, he attended the 14th Post-Forum Dialogue Meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) held in Fiji, and vigorously presented the positive Japanese stance toward the PIF countries at a high level. He also invited the PIF leaders to participate in the Third Japan-Pacific Islands Forum Summit Meeting (PALM 2003) (planned to be held between April and June 2003), which was highly appreciated by the PIF leaders.
  • During his visit, Mr. Uetake held talks with leaders of six countries and foreign ministers of three countries, in an endeavor to strengthen bilateral relationships.
  • In Papua New Guinea, Mr. Uetake was greeted by newly elected Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare and almost the entire cabinet. In addition, he was exceptionally well treated during his visit to Rabaul, being accompanied at all times by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Sir Rabbie Namaliu, and the provincial governor. Mr. Uetake expressed Japan's support for people who suffered due to the recent volcanic eruption and for the rice cultivation, and also indicated Japan's wide-ranging cooperative stance toward Papua New Guinea.

Mr. Uetake visited the Republic of the Fiji Islands from August 18 to 21. He attended the 14th Post-Forum Dialogue Meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum * (PIF), and also held individual talks with several leaders and foreign ministers of the PIF nations. From August 22 to 25, he visited Papua New Guinea, held talks with key figures, and laid flowers at a memorial for war dead. The following is an outline and evaluation of his visit to Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

* The Post-Forum Dialogue Meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum has been held since the South Pacific Forum (SPF), which is a former name of the PIF, started dialogue meetings with non-PIF states, mainly donor countries in 1989. This year marked the 14th such meeting. Japan has continuously dispatched high-level delegations to the meeting since the first meeting. PIF member countries and regions are: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Fiji Islands, Independent State of Samoa, Solomon Islands, Republic of Vanuatu, Kingdom of Tonga, Republic of Nauru, Republic of Kiribati, Tuvalu, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau, Cook Islands and Niue.

1. Outline

(1) 14th Post-Forum Dialogue Meeting

(a) In the morning of August 24, the Japan and PIF Post-Forum Dialogue Meeting was held in Nadi, Fiji, attended by Mr. Shigeo Uetake, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs; Hon. Young M. Vivian, Premier of Niue; Hon. Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand; and cabinet ministers from Palau and Nauru.

(b) At this Post-Forum Dialogue Meeting, Mr. Uetake explained that Japan is actively following-up the Pacific Common Frontiers Initiatives that Japan proposed at the Second Japan-South Pacific Forum Summit Meeting (PALM 2000) in April 2000. In addition, he expressed that Japan is making preparations with an aim to hold the Third Japan-Pacific Islands Forum Summit Meeting (PALM 2003) some time between April and June 2003. This was greatly welcomed by the PIF leaders.

(c) Among the main points for discussion, regarding the global environment, the PIF side stated its support of Japan's stance regarding the Kyoto Protocol, and cooperation toward the success of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) was reaffirmed. Regarding fishery issues, Japan expressed its position regarding the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and the Multilateral High-Level Conference (MHLC) Treaty (Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Treaty). In response, the PIF side mentioned the establishment of a South Pacific Whale Sanctuary and asked Japan to join the MHLC Treaty. However, not all of the PIF countries reached a consensus on these points. The PIF side also brought up the matter of the transportation of radioactive materials, and both sides agreed to continue discussions on this issue.

(d) Both sides shared the same position and agreed to continue cooperation on many other issues, including ways to encourage trade and investment between Japan and PIF countries, regional security issues (Solomon Islands, PNG, etc.) antiterrorism measures as well as disarmament and nonproliferation of weapons.

(2) Meeting with PIF Leaders Hosted by Laisenia Qarase, Prime Minister of Fiji and Bilateral Talks

(a) At a meeting with some PIF leaders on August 18 hosted by the Hon. Qarase, Prime Minister of Fiji, Mr. Uetake, Senior Vice-Minister directly invited the leaders to the next Japan-Pacific Islands Forum Summit Meeting in 2003. The Hon. Qarase and the other leaders expressed their intention to participate. In addition, the participating leaders brought up several issues. Mr. Uetake explained Japan's position regarding fishery issues directly to the leaders.

(b) On August 18, Mr. Uetake had a bilateral talk with the Hon. Qarase, Prime Minister of Fiji. Mr. Uetake invited the Hon. Qarase to the next Japan-Pacific Islands Forum Summit Meeting as Chairman of the PIF, and also invited him to Japan as a guest of the Minister for Foreign Affairs in mid-October of this year. The Hon. Qarase accepted the invitations with pleasure. The Hon. Qarase also expressed his gratitude for Japan's economic and other cooperation toward Fiji.

(c) Mr. Uetake also had bilateral talks with the Hon. Teburoro Tito, President of the Republic of Kiribati; the Hon. Tommy Remengesau Jr., President of the Republic of Palau; the Hon. Ulukalala Lavaka-Ata, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga; the Hon. Allan Kemakeza, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands; the Hon. Gerald Zackios, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Marshall Islands; the Hon. Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand; and the Hon. Isireli Leweniqila, Minister for Youth, Employment Opportunities and Sport of the Republic of the Fiji Islands.

(3) Visit to Papua New Guinea

(a) From August 22 to 25, Mr. Uetake paid a visit to Papua New Guinea, where on August 22, he met with principal Cabinet members of the new Government of Papua New Guinea which had just been sworn in, earlier in the month, including Sir Michael Somare, Prime Minister; Sir Rabbie Namaliu, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration; and the Hon. Bart Philemon, Minister for Finance and Treasury. Mr. Uetake offered his congratulations on their appointments and also expressed sympathy for the people suffering due to the volcanic eruption in West New Britain Province that occurred in August. Mr. Uetake had discussions with Ministers on a variety of subjects, such as an invitation to participate in the next PALM 2003, and emergency aid to the volcanic eruption, as well as bilateral relations in general, including economic cooperation. On August 22, emergency supplies from Japan were handed over to Papua New Guinea by Mr. Uetake. From August 23 to 24, Mr. Uetake visited Rabaul, where he met with dignitaries and laid flowers at a memorial for war dead. In the evening of August 24, Mr. Tatsuo Tanaka, Japanese Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, hosted a reception to which Papua New Guinea dignitaries were invited. The Hon. Allan Marat, Deputy Prime Minister; Sir Robbie Namaliu, Foreign Minister; and other Cabinet members as well as personages such as Sir Mekere Morauta, former Prime Minister, attended the reception. Mr. Uetake delivered a speech concerning Japan's diplomacy toward the Pacific islands and the relations between Japan and Papua New Guinea.

(b) Mr. Uetake's visit to Papua New Guinea was the first by a Japanese government official since then-Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Yasuo Fukuda visited the country in 1995 (he is currently Chief Cabinet Secretary). During the visit Mr. Uetake received an extremely warm welcome, for example, Sir Robbie Namaliu, Foreign Minister, accompanied him during the entire trip to Rabaul.

2. Evaluation

(1) Since the inception of the PIF Dialogue Meeting, Japan has dispatched high-level officials, such as the Parliamentary Vice-Minister or Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, in order to enhance relations with nations of the PIF. This was the first time that a Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs attended the meeting. In this dialogue meeting, Japan vigorously presented its positive stance toward the PIF nations, by reporting on the progress of the follow-ups of PALM 2000 and inviting PIF leaders to PALM 2003, which was highly appreciated by the PIF leaders. Mr. Uetake had candid and meaningful exchanges of views with the leaders and ministers of the PIF countries, and through such dialogue, mutual understanding has been deepened and Japan's friendly and cooperative relations with the PIF nations has been further promoted. In addition, this meeting provided a good opportunity to find out interests and concerns of the PIF countries, with PALM 2003 in mind.

(2) During this visit, Mr. Uetake held individual talks with leaders of six countries and foreign ministers of three countries, including the Hon. Qarase, Prime Minister of Fiji, and Sir Michael Somare, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, and met other PIF leaders. Through high-level talks, which are usually difficult to realize, Japan and the PIF countries had significant discussions on a variety of bilateral issues and strengthened their bilateral relations. With regard to Fiji in particular, Mr. Uetake received a commitment from the Hon. Qarase, who will co-chair PALM 2003, that he would cooperate with Japan for the success of the Summit.

(3) As for the visit to Papua New Guinea, Mr. Uetake's visit came immediately after the inauguration of the new administration, and happened to be only the second by a foreign official - the first being the Hon. John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia - and proved very timely also because Mr. Uetake announced Japan's economic cooperation stance, including support for persons affected by the recent volcanic eruption. The visit therefore accomplished more than what was initially expected.

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