Ambassadors from the Federated States of Micronesia, Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Palau, attended the Pacific Islands Leaders’ Meeting and Governors’ Meeting (PALM & G) that was held in Japan’s Kochi Prefecture on Tuesday, June 4. The island nations are important partners for the local governments of Japan, which is why local government representatives also attend the meetings. Fourteen Japanese local governments and 16 Pacific Island countries/territories form the network. Masanao Ozaki, Governor of Kochi Prefecture, serves as head of Japanese local governors while the President of Federated States of Micronesia fronts for those Pacific Island countries/territories.
The 40-strong meeting of officials also comprised representatives from 10 prefectures of Japan, officials of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representatives from the Headquarters for the Promotion of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) and Pacific Islands Centre (PIC). The PIC is the trade and investment promotion office of the Pacific Islands Forum based in Tokyo, Japan.
The meeting drew a consensus to encourage and expand human exchange in various fields.
As Japan will host world’s big sporting events including the Rugby World Cup 2019 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, some of the local government has started having a contact with each country as a prior camping area.
In the meantime, participants have made a statement that long-lasting human exchange, establishment of training programmes providing for climate change and disaster, mutual exchange in the field of agriculture and fisheries should be aimed at to build sustainable relationships among the participants.
For more information, please email PIC at info@pic.org.jp
Pacific Periscope 