Oceania

On Tuesday, September 20, commencing at 12:15 p.m. (local time) for 55 minutes, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the third Japan-Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting at the New York Marriott East Side during his visit to New York, exchanging opinions with Pacific islands countries’ leaders. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

1. In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Abe explained that various commitments and cooperation announced at the Seventh Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 7) are steadily making progress and that the secure and prompt implementation of promises is Japan’s strength. He also called for cooperation in making the PALM 8 in 2018 successful and made the following points regarding common challenges facing Japan and Pacific island countries.

(1) Prime Minister Abe expressed Japan’s continued cooperation with Pacific island countries in tackling their common challenges including disaster risk reduction, climate change, environment, promoting people-to-people exchanges, trade, investment and tourism.
(2) Prime Minister Abe emphasized the importance of the “rule of law at seas” and called for cooperation in sustainable use of marine resources.
(3) Prime Minister Abe called for cooperation in addressing North Korea’s repeated nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches and resolving the abduction issue.
(4) Prime Minister Abe called for cooperation in reforming the United Nations including the Security Council.

2. In response, the participating countries' leaders appreciated the contributions that Japan has been making thus far via the PALMs and welcomed the steady follow-up on the PALM 7. They also expressed expectations on Japan’s enhancement of cooperation with the Pacific region in areas such as disaster risk reduction, climate change and environment, sustainable development, maritime issues and fisheries, human resources development and regional access. Furthermore, they commented on North Korea, the rule of law at the seas, the United Nations reform and other matters in response to relevant remarks by Prime Minister Abe.

3. In response, Prime Minister Abe expressed that he renewed strong recognition on the significance of Japan’s partnership with the Pacific Island countries and that Japan would like to continue high-level dialogues with these countries.

(Participants from Pacific Island countries)
H.E. Peter Martin Christian, President of the Federated States of Micronesia
H.E. Dr. Hilda C. Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
Hon. Tuilaepa Fatialofa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa
Hon. Manasseh Damukana Sogavare, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands
Hon. Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu
Hon. Rimbink Pato, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Hon. Saia Ma’u Piukala, Minister of Health of the Kingdom of Tonga
Hon. David W. R. Adeang, Minister Assisting the President of the Republic of Nauru
H.E. Makurita Baaro, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kiribati to the United Nations
H.E. Caleb Otto, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Palau to the United Nations
Mrs. Dame Meg Taylor, Secretary General, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat