Next month’s PALM 10 meeting of Pacific leaders provides an opportunity for the Japanese Government to forge closer and stronger relationships, with Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries (PICs).
International House of Japan director Professor Jimbo Ken, who also heads the Sasakawa Think Tank team, said leaders at this Tokyo meeting in Japan should recognise and realise that the South Pacific nations played a vital role in the region because of its strategic location.
“The South Pacific location is very strategic so PALM will be an opportunity for our national leaders in Japan to heighten its discussion with Pacific Island leaders,” he said.
“Japan needs to increase its presence and relevance in the South Pacific because other countries like America, China, Australia and New Zealand have had a different level of commitment.
“The level of commitment has been quite marginal and I’d like to see more of ministerial visits to Japan from the island nation leaders.”
Professor Jimbo said PALM 10 meeting meant a physical presence of Pacific leaders and this was imperative.
“This is very important, sometimes it’s effective and in this case, Japan needs to increase its profile in the South Pacific,” he said.
Sasakawa director Hidoyuki Shiozawa-san said climate change would be an agenda at the PALM meeting next month.
