PIFs and Japan endorse PALM10 declaration to strengthen partnership

The 18 members of the Pacific Islands Forum came together with the Government of Japan to strengthen their shared partnership to endorse the PALM10 Declaration and Joint Action Plan.

Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and Forum Chair Mark Brown says the PALM platform is integral to the Pacific region’s partnership with Japan and almost 30 years since the first PALM, we continue to value the opportunity to discuss our concerns and priorities based on our mutual commitment to effective, open and honest partnership.

Brown says the PALM10 Declaration reflects the shared priorities and commitments within the Pacific leaders, and as Leaders of the Pacific, they will work as one united region and seek partners who want to work with them through their systems, understand them from their vantage point and most importantly, align and commit themselves to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and its Implementation Plan.

Their partnership with Japan will address key areas of cooperation, in particular climate change, which remains the single greatest existential threat to the Blue Pacific.

PIF leaders welcomed Japan’s support at the international level on issues including securing the legal certainty of the Blue Pacific by preserving maritime zones in the face of climate change-related sea-level rise, conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction and addressing marine pollution through the development of an ambitious international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution

Leaders discussed the discharge of ALPS-treated water into the Pacific Ocean from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station which will recognise their shared commitment to safeguarding the Pacific region.

PIF leaders acknowledged the Government of Japan’s assurances to continue to provide sincere explanations to Pacific Island Countries based on scientific evidence in a way that is highly transparent, and to never approve the discharge in a manner that endangers well-being, livelihoods, human health or the marine environment.

To realise the potential of Pacific people and resources, the partnership will address economic challenges including correspondent banking relationships and strengthening investment and trade links, including through a Pacific-Japan Investment Seminar later this year.

Fisheries are a key resource, and leaders continued to urge partners to support resource development efforts such as the East New Britain Initiative, another Pacific-led solution which will enhance the benefits of tuna fisheries by establishing collective and inclusive investment pathways.

Japan’s strengths and long-standing record of cooperation in technology and connectivity will support PIF's ambitions for a well-connected region with enhanced systems and services in line with the Lagatoi Declaration on Digital Transformation of the Pacific.

PIF Leaders recognise that despite great progress and investments to improve Pacific health and education outcomes, much more needs to be done as Japan is a long-standing partner in this area, contributing capacity building, peer-to-peer learning, scholarships and technical knowledge, and this partnership will build on this.