Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will participate in the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) in Tokyo, Japan, next week.
Every three years, Japan hosts PALM meetings where Pacific leaders and Japan gather to exchange views on regional issues and strengthen ties. The meeting was first held in 1997, and PALM9 took place online in July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Rabuka was one of the Pacific leaders who attended the inaugural PALM in 1997.
“For us, it’s just a continuation of the first PALM,” he said. “It’s our regional cooperation, and we’ll be focusing on topics of interest, such as the use of the region for strategic positioning. We need to be aware of those.”
The PALM meeting allows Japan and Pacific leaders to engage in discussions on climate change, development aid, and strategic security for the region. It also provides a platform for Pacific leaders to highlight their countries’ issues and explore regional assistance.
“I felt duty-bound to be there as one of the founding leaders who attended the first one, focusing on regionalisation, cooperation, and development,” Mr. Rabuka said. “Our role in the universe and globally, it will be good for us to go there.”
Japanese Ambassador to Fiji Rokuichiro Michii expressed gratitude for Mr. Rabuka’s attendance. Mr. Michii stated that Mr. Rabuka’s participation demonstrated his commitment to regionalism and emphasized the importance of Fiji’s bilateral relations with Japan.
“In this region, Fiji plays a central role and is a source of stability. Therefore, his presence is very, very important,” Mr. Michii said.
The PALM will take place from next Tuesday to Thursday.