1. APEC Japan 2010 Economic Leaders’ Meeting

2. Prime Minister Kan’s Visit to the G20 Seoul Summit

3. The First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions

4. The Aichi-Nagoya Ministerial Meeting of the REDD+ Partnership

5. COP10 to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

6. ASEAN related Summit Meetings

7. The PALM Ministerial Interim Meeting

8. The Eighth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 8)

9. Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)

7. The PALM Ministerial Interim Meeting

The PALM Ministerial Interim Meeting: Japan Reports 32.3 bn Yen Assistance in Place, Sets Out Priority Issues for Next PALM

   The Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) Ministerial Interim Meeting, as the first endeavor, was held in Tokyo on 16 October. The Meeting was chaired by Mr. Seiji Maehara, Foreign Minister of Japan and was attended by The Hon. Edward Nipake Natapei, Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu (Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)), and ministerial level representatives including Deputy Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers from 16 PIF member countries and regions.

   At the Meeting, Foreign Minister Maehara explained Japan’s basic policy on diplomacy toward Pacific island countries and that Japan places importance on relationships with Pacific island countries based on the equal partnership. Foreign Minister Maehara also reported that Japan has already provided assistance amounting to approximately 32.3 billion JPY out of 50 billion JPY pledged at PALM 5 in May 2009. Touching upon its future assistance to Pacific island countries, Foreign Minister Maehara addressed that Japan would like to assist the self-help efforts of Pacific island countries in a more transparent, flexible and expeditious manner. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Maehara explained the following as priority issues for the next PALM (announced to be held in Nago, Okinawa in May 2012): 1) reinvigorating political-level visits from Japan to Pacific island countries, 2) continued assistance with a focus on the most aid effective areas, 3) enhancing the invitation programme for young people from Pacific island countries aimed at further strengthening people-to-people exchanges from a medium-to-long-term perspective, and 4) further cooperation in the area of climate change. After the Meeting, Foreign Minister Maehara issued the Chair’s summary and held a joint press conference with Prime Minister Natapei.

   The PALM Ministerial Interim Meeting was held as the first endeavor. A new framework was launched to further effectively utilize the interval of three years between PALMs to strengthen relations between Japan and Pacific island countries. The Meeting was also meaningful in that it had in-depth discussions on the forms of assistance to Pacific island countries in the future. Furthermore, the Meeting was highly appreciated by Pacific island countries as the Japanese side reviewed its assistance after the PALM 5. The Meeting deepened discussions on new measures to further strengthen relations between Japan and Pacific island countries and proceeded with preparation for the next summit. These discussions were partly based on the proposals, which were submitted by intellectuals on the occasion of the symposium hosted by the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) one month prior to the Meeting. In addition, bilateral relations between Japan and Pacific island countries were strengthened through events such as the courtesy call on Prime Minister Kan by all high-level representatives from 16 PIF member countries and regions, as well as the bilateral meetings with Foreign Minister Maehara, etc.