Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Manoa Kamikamica will serve as Acting Prime Minister while Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka attends the 10th Summit of the Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM10) in Tokyo, Japan this week.
Rabuka, who led the Fiji Government delegation in 1997 at the first PALM Summit, is once again heading the delegation for this significant event.
Rabuka expressed his enthusiasm for meeting with leaders from the 18 member states of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to strengthen the forum’s vision for a resilient Pacific region promoting peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity.
The PALM10 Summit will also serve as an opportunity to renew the partnership between Japan and Pacific countries, aiming to ensure that all Pacific people can lead free, healthy, and productive lives.
The Summit discussions will focus on aligning the implementation of the PIF Leaders’ 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy, particularly in areas like climate action, environment, people-centered economic development, and technology and connectivity.
Rabuka is scheduled to participate in a series of official engagements, including a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
This bilateral meeting is expected to further strengthen the diplomatic relations between Fiji and Japan, which have expanded over the years to include critical areas such as climate change, disaster risk management, health, and social and economic development.
The two leaders will also discuss the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan International Cooperation System (JICS), which have empowered communities in Fiji through various development programs.
Rabuka is accompanied by Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister Pita Wise, Permanent Secretary for Rural and Maritime Development Isoa Talemaibua, and Chief Executive for Investment Fiji Kamal Chetty.
The PALM10 Summit begins today and will conclude on Thursday.