He was also expected to provide details of stepped-up aid for “human security” projects in the region, including provision of water-related assistance, and people-to-people exchanges.
At a reception Thursday night for Pacific heads of state here for the fifth PALM summit that kicks off Friday afternoon, Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone said “environment and climate change, human security and people-to-people exchanges” will be the foundation for Japan’s partnership with Pacific islands.
An expert committee recommended that Japan focus its PALM agenda on “three pillars of cooperation: the environment as an urgent topic, human security that addresses vulnerability and human resource development.”
“We have a vision of a Pacific environmental community,” Nakasone said. “We will continue to assist nation building by utilizing environmental technology.”
Nakasone said, “Japan intends to provide assistance in the human security field, including on water.”
Exchanges among people in Japan and the Pacific “serve as a foundation of the relationship between Japan and the Pacific,” he said. Japan will implement a series of exchange programs, he added.
Aside from a late afternoon Friday session and two sessions Saturday morning involving all the leaders, Aso will hold one-on-one meetings with heads of state from six of the islands on Friday afternoon where leaders from the Solomon Islands, Samoa, Nauru, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands and Tonga are expected to pitch a variety of projects to Aso seeking Japan aid.
Niue Island Premier Toke Tufukia Talagi, who chairs the Pacific Islands Forum, said Thursday he was happy to see PALM developing concrete partnerships with Japan. “With the JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) Pacific Islands Exhibition 2009 opening, we are not just talking about a partnership with Japan, but we have trade and traders at the exhibit (promoting and selling island products),” he said.
