General information on the Fourth Japan-Pacific Islands Forum Summit Meeting

In May 2006, the Fourth Japan-Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Summit Meeting will be held in Okinawa, Japan. The background of holding the Summit Meeting is as follows:

1. Significance of the Japan-PIF Summit Meeting

Leaders-level dialogues have taken place on the sustainable development of the Pacific island nations.

2. The past three Japan-PIF Summit Meetings

The following three Japan-PIF Summit Meetings have been held on Japan's invitation of the heads of government of 16 countries and regions: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati, Tonga, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Nauru, Niue, Cook Islands, Australia* and New Zealand *.

* From these two countries, Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Trade attended the meeting.

(1) The First Japan-PIF Summit Meeting was held in Tokyo in 1997, attended by Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto.

(2) The Second Japan-PIF Summit Meeting was held in Miyazaki in 2000, attended by Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori.

(3) The Third Japan-PIF Summit Meeting was held in Tokyo in 2003, attended by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

3. Achievements of the Previous (Third) Japan-PIF Summit Meeting in Okinawa

The "Okinawa Initiative" was adopted as an outcome document of this Meeting. The Initiative includes a joint action plan to tackle issues of common concern to the regions involved, based on Japan's cooperation (partnership) and the islands' self-efforts (ownership).

The "Okinawa Initiative" is a concrete and action-oriented strategy to realize "sustainable development" in the Pacific island region.

Its five priority policy targets:
(1) Enhanced Security in the Pacific Region
(2) A Safer and More Sustainable Environment
(3) Improved Education and Human Resources Development
(4) Better Health
(5) More Robust and Sustained Trade and Economic Growth

This document has been produced by the Oceania Division, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, MOFA in January 2006.