The Second Japan- South Pacific Forum (SPF) Summit Meeting

October 8, 1999

1. In the morning of October 7, in Koror, the capital of the Republic of Palau, Mr. Shozo Azuma, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, attended the Post Forum Dialogue with Honorable Billy G. Kuartei, Minister of Education of Palau, Honorable Clement Leo, Minister assisting the Prime Minister of Vanuatu on Foreign Affairs, Honorable Fred Fono, Minister for Development and Planning of the Solomon Islands, Honorable Epel K. Ilon, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Federated States of Micronesia, and Mr. W. Noel Levi, Secretary General of the Forum Secretariat.

2. During the dialogue, Mr. Azuma explained that, based on the results of the First Japan-SPF Summit Meeting held in 1997 and the reference made in the communique issued at the general assembly of SPF, which was held before this Dialogue, Japan will further strengthen constructive and friendly relations with the SPF members, and that it is considering the possibility of hosting a Second Japan-SPF Summit Meeting in Japan at an appropriate time in the spring of 2000, with a view to the success of the Kyushu-Okinawa Summit, and requested their active participation and cooperation. The ministers of the attending countries responded positively. From now on, Japan will coordinate the date and other items with the SPF side.
   At this Dialogue, both sides also exchanged views on development, trade and investment, fisheries, shipments of nuclear materials, and other issues.

Related Information (Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum Relations)