Oceania
The Partners in the Blue Pacific Ministerial Meeting on Cooperation with Pacific Island Countries
On September 22, commencing at 4 p.m. (local time; 5 a.m. on September 23 JST) for approximately 75 minutes, the Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP) Ministerial Meeting was held in New York, the United States. Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who was visiting New York to attend the Seventy-Seven Session of the United Nations General Assembly, and Foreign Ministers and representatives of Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and Canada attended the meeting from the PBP side. Also Hon. Rear Admiral (Retired) Josaia Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Fiji (the current Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum) and other representatives from Pacific Islands region attended the meeting.
- At this first ministerial meeting, the PBP members emphasized that they will support “The 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent" set out by the Pacific Islands region in July this year, and that it will promote close dialogue and cooperation with the Pacific Island countries under common principles such as regionalism, transparency, and accountability.
- Minister Hayashi mentioned Japan's efforts toward the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” such as the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, which has been highly valued by the Pacific Islands region, and stated that the PBP stands ready to support region-driven efforts in climate change and other areas.
- The representatives of Pacific Islands region welcomed the PBP's intention for close dialogue and cooperation, and expressed their expectations for concrete cooperation in the future.
[Reference] Attached pdf files
- Joint Statement (English (PDF)
/ Japanese (PDF))