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, providing a platform for Pacific leaders and Japan to discuss regional issues and strengthen ties. The inaugural meeting was held in 1997, and PALM9 took place online in July 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Rabuka was one of the leaders present at the first 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 the topic of tropic interest, which is the use of the region for strategic positioning. We need to be aware of those.”
The PALM meeting facilitates discussions on climate change, development aid, and strategic security for the region. It also allows Pacific leaders to highlight their national issues and seek regional assistance.
Mr. Rabuka stated, “I felt duty bound to be there as one of the founding leaders who attended the first PALM, addressing regionalisation, cooperation, and development. It will be beneficial for us to participate.”
Japanese Ambassador to Fiji, Rokuichiro Michii, expressed gratitude for Mr. Rabuka’s attendance, highlighting his commitment to regionalism.
“We are grateful for making it possible to travel because Fiji’s bilateral relations are very important,” Mr. Michii said. “Fiji plays a central role in this region, being a source of stability, and therefore, his presence is very, very important.”
The PALM will be held from next Tuesday to Thursday.