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» Japan and Pacific Leaders Successfully Conclude PALM 5, in Hokkaido Japan

 

The Leaders of Japan and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) countries met and successfully concluded the Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting or the PALM 5, which was held in Hokkaido, the northern most island of Japan, from 22 to 23 May 2009. The Leaders and representatives of Japan, Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu were in attendance. The Meeting was co-chaired by the Prime Minister of Japan, H.E. Taro Aso, and the Chair of the PIF and Premier of Niue, the Hon Toke Tufukia Talagi.


Reflecting their common heritage as island nations and a shared responsibility for the protection of the Pacific Ocean, the Leaders of Japan and the PIF expressed a mutual commitment to face future challenges to the region in the spirit of equal partnership and adopted the theme for PALM 5 of "We are islanders - Towards an Eco-friendly and Rich Pacific".

The Leaders happily welcomed the announcement of the commitment by the Leader of Japan to provide assistance to the extent of 50 billion yen to Pacific island countries over the next three years.


At the conclusion of the Summit, the Leaders collectively agreed upon the ‘Palm 5: Islanders' Hokkaido Declaration’ and made decisive Commitments in the following crucial areas which also formed the 3 Sessions of the Summit Meeting:

  1. Environment and Climate Change: Protecting our Ocean and Islands

  2. Overcoming Vulnerabilities and Promoting Human Security

  3. Enhancing people-to-people exchange - The "Kizuna" Plan

Session (1): Environment and Climate Change: Protecting our Ocean and Islands

As cited in Declaration 15, the Leaders of Japan and the PIF acknowledged the need to build human resources, technological capabilities and capacity, and develop and transfer appropriate technology in Pacific island countries in addressing environmental issues including climate change. In this regard, the Leader of Japan pledged 6.8 billion Yen for the Pacific Island Countries in the next three years as assistance for human resources development of 1,500 individuals to share Japan's knowledge in the area of environment including climate change.

 

Session (2): Overcoming Vulnerabilities and Promoting Human Security

Pertaining to Declaration 19, the Leaders of Japan and the PIF confirmed their mutual commitment to cooperate closely to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by the target date of 2015. In this regard, the Leader of Japan also committed to provide assistance for human resource development of 2,000 individuals to assist Pacific island countries to attain MDGs and overcome economic vulnerabilities.


Session (3): Enhancing people-to-people exchange - The "Kizuna" Plan

The Leaders of Japan and the PIF underlined the importance of promoting people-to-people exchange to build closer relations between Japan and Pacific island countries. In this context, the Leaders of the PIF welcomed Japan's Kizuna plan as described in Annex 2. The general commitment under this plan for the next three years is to arrange Youth Exchange for more than 1,000 people under multilayered exchange with particular focus on young generation such as, World Youth Ship Program, Overseas Students, Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, high school student exchange, pupils and youth exchange, and invitation programs.


Aware of the importance of ensuring practical and mutually beneficial activities resulting from PALM 5, the Leaders of Japan and the PIF decided to hold a high-level interim meeting during 2010 to follow-up implementation of the key PALM 5 outcomes, including enhanced cooperation to cope with climate change. The same, 2010 meeting will be hosted to begin the preparatory process for PALM 6. The Leaders of the PIF also welcomed Japan's proposal to decide the timing and venue for the next PALM (PALM 6) at that 2010 interim meeting.

 

For detailed information on the PALM 5, the Leaders’ Commitments as well as the PALM 5: Islanders' Hokkaido Declaration’, ANNEX 1: Pacific Environment Community and ANNEX 2: Action Plan, please refer to the below mentioned attachments.

 

Attachment:

 

The Web Address for Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and PALM 5 is:

http://www.mofa.go.jp/region/asia-paci/palm/palm5/declaration.html

 

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