Visit to Japan of the Honorable Laisenia Qarase,
Chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and
Prime Minister of the Republic of the Fiji Islands
(Summary and Evaluation)
1. Outline
(1) Overview
(a) From 5 to 10 October, the Hon. Laisenia Qarase, Chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and Prime Minister of the Republic of the Fiji Islands visited Japan as a guest of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by Mrs. Qarase.
(b) During the stay, the Prime Minister and Mrs. Qarase had an audience with Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan. In addition, Prime Minister Qarase held talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoriko Kawaguchi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Takeo Hiranuma and former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori. He also held informal talks with the members of the Japan-Fiji Parliamentary Friendship League (Chairman: Hon. Fukushiro Nukaga, a member of the House of Representatives), and the chairman and CEO of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
(c) The Prime Minister and Mrs. Qarase visited Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera temples in Kyoto, and the Tsukiji fish market and a sumo stable in Tokyo. Prime Minister Qarase managed to complete such an energetic schedule, which also included interviews with the press (Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) and the Sankei Shimbun).
(2) Highlights of the Meeting with Prime Minister Koizumi
(a) Next Japan-Pacific Islands Forum Summit Meeting
(i) Prime Minister Koizumi stated as follows: Japan, being an island nation just like the member states of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), would like to continue to strengthen its cooperation with the PIF. In view of this, Japan will host the Third Japan-PIF Summit Meeting (PALM 2003) next year.
(ii) To this, Prime Minister Qarase responded as follows:
- We have great expectations for the PALM 2003 and I will do my utmost for its success as Chairman of the PIF.
- You (Prime Minister Koizumi) made a wonderful speech at the Johannesburg Summit (WSSD) and all the island countries value it highly, especially the specific aid commitment given in the speech.
- I would like the agenda of the PALM 2003 to reflect the viewpoint of actualizing the results of the WSSD.
(b)Global Environmental Issues
(i) Prime Minister Koizumi stated that Japan would continue to tackle global environmental issues with the understanding that balancing environmental protection and economic development is very important.
(ii) To this, Prime Minister Qarase responded as follows:
- We highly regard Japan's leadership in the Kyoto Protocol.
- Fiji will continue to appeal to Australia, US as well as other developing countries for the ratification of the protocol.
(3) Highlights of the Meeting with Foreign Minister Kawaguchi
(a)Japan-Fiji Bilateral Relation
(i)Foreign Minister Kawaguchi stated as follows:
- In light of her pivotal role in the region the stability of Fiji is very important for the South Pacific region. It is expected that Fiji will achieve national reconciliation through dialogue and engage in activities for economic development.
- Concerning economic cooperation, the environment surrounding Official Development Assistance (ODA) in Japan is becoming increasingly severe. However, considering the importance of Fiji in the region, Japan will continue to provide cooperation that is to the benefit of the region as a whole.
- Japan is grateful to Fiji for its support for Japan becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
(ii)In response, Prime Minister Qarase expressed his appreciation for Japan's understanding and support during the political disorder in Fiji.
(b)Next Japan-Pacific Islands Forum Summit Meeting (PALM 2003)
(i)Foreign Minister Kawaguchi stated as follows:
- Based on the results of the Japan-Pacific Islands Forum Summit Meeting in 2000 (PALM 2000), Japan is implementing the "Pacific Common Frontiers Initiative."
- Japan would like to hold the PALM 2003 sometime around May next year in co-ordination with the PIF. Japan would like to request the cooperation of Prime Minister Qarase as the Co-Chair of the Meeting.
- Japan would like to focus on the following agenda at the PALM 2003: environmental issues (e.g. waste disposal, protection of the natural environment including coral reefs and mangrove swamps, and global warming), education and human resources development.
(ii)Prime Minister Qarase responded as follows:
- It is important that dialogue continues between Japan, a developed country, and the developing countries of the PIF. I (Prime Minister Qarase) will cooperate with Japanese side towards the success of the PALM 2003 in my capacity as Co-Chair.
- The agenda items proposed by Foreign Minister Kawaguchi were in line with the speech made by Prime Minister Koizumi at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg. It is important that the PALM 2003 provides an opportunity to realize the results of the WSSD.
(c) Global Environmental Issues
(i)Foreign Minister Kawaguchi recognized the serious impact of global environmental issues on the Pacific islands region. In addition, she stated that it was important to create common regime for these issues for all the countries including developing countries and the United States of America, to join.
(ii)Prime Minister Qarase responded as follows:
- I (Prime Minister Qarase) praise the leadership of Japan in the Kyoto Protocol.
- Fiji will call upon its neighboring countries, including Australia, to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
2. Evaluation
(1) Japan invites the Chairman of the PIF every year in order to promote the regional dialogue and cooperation within the Pacific region and to strengthen the dialogue between Japan and the PIF. In particular, Prime Minister Qarase's visit this time was significant in strengthening the Japan-PIF partnership and cooperation towards the PALM 2003 to be held in Japan next year.
(2) Concerning the PALM 2003, the following concrete results were achieved.
(a) Prime Minister Koizumi formally proposed that the next Japan-Pacific Islands Forum Summit Meeting should be held next year, and it was agreed that preparatory works for the Meeting would be initiated in the cooperation with Prime Minister Qarase, as Chairman of the PIF.
(b) It was agreed between Prime Minister Qarase and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi that the agenda for the PALM 2003 would focus on environmental issues, education and human resource development.
(c) It was agreed that the PALM 2003 should also focus on realizing the results of the WSSD.
(3) The visit by Prime Minister Qarase was the first official visit by a Prime Minister of the Republic of the Fiji Islands since its political disorder had broke out in May 2000. Prime Minister Qarase gave his assurances that the domestic situation in Fiji had been normalized and expressed his gratitude for Japan's understanding and support during the normalization process, as well as for the assistance provided by Japan for the general election. With this visit, mutual understanding and trust between Japan and Fiji have deepened and this will be significant for the future development of bilateral relations between the two countries.
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