Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will attend the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) in Tokyo, Japan, next week.
Japan hosts PALM meetings every three years, bringing together Pacific leaders and Japan to discuss regional issues and strengthen ties. The first meeting was in 1997, and PALM9 was held online in July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Rabuka was among the Pacific leaders at the inaugural PALM in 1997.
“It’s just a continuation of the first PALM,” Mr. Rabuka said. “It’s about regional cooperation, focusing on topics like the strategic use of the region.”
The PALM meeting facilitates crucial discussions on climate change, development aid, and strategic security, while also allowing Pacific leaders to present their country’s challenges and seek regional assistance.
“As one of the founding leaders, I felt duty-bound to attend. Regional cooperation and development are important,” Mr. Rabuka added. “Our role globally will benefit from this participation.”
Japanese Ambassador to Fiji Rokuichiro Michii expressed gratitude for Mr. Rabuka’s attendance, noting it signifies his commitment to regionalism.
“His attendance underscores the importance of Fiji’s bilateral relations and its central, stabilizing role in the region,” Mr. Michii said.
The PALM10 will take place from next Tuesday to Thursday.