PALM10 Declaration Commits to Japan’s Pacific Bond (Kizuna) Policy and its alignment to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent

By Sharon Nanau

The tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) concluded in Tokyo, Japan with leaders re-affirming their commitment to Japan’s Pacific Bond (Kizuna) Policy and its alignment to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent (2050 Strategy) through a declaration and action plan.

Solomon Islands was represented at the forum by Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, Foreign Minister Peter Shanel Angovaka and Health Minister Dr Paul Bosawai.

PALM10 Summit co-chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown in a press briefing after the leaders meeting said the PALM is a part of the pacific region’s partnership with Japan.

“We continue to value the opportunity to discuss our concerns and priorities based on our mutual commitments to be effective, open and honest partnership, we the leaders of the pacific are very clear that we will work as one united region.”

Mr Brown said the PALM10 declaration reflects the pacific countries and Japan’s shared priority and commitments.

“I thank prime minister Fumio Kishida, the ministers and officials from the government of Japan for the preparation and efforts towards what we as leaders have agreed on today.”

Prime Minister Brown adds as the pacific region and its partners work on the 2025 blue pacific strategy, action is needed and genuine partnership is sought.

Meanwhile Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Japan will continue to support development and peace cooperation in the pacific region.

He said Japan would also contribute to the enhancement of connectivity on land, sea, air and in the digital space through the development of quality infrastructure including submarine cables.

He explains they will further expand people-to-people exchanges to protect and strengthen human dignity.

“Japan would continue to promote cooperation in the fields of education and health, and further expand people-to-people exchanges through the current human exchange and human resource development programs between Japan and the region.”

The PALM10 Joint Action Plan endorsed by the leaders outlines specific actions that Japan and the PIF Members will jointly undertake over the next three years based on the seven priority areas of cooperation in line with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.

All Joint Action Plan initiatives will consider the national context of each country in which projects are implemented and will respect the national processes, mechanisms and structures in place.

Throughout the PALM10 summit PIF leaders have committed to strengthening cooperation in several key areas, specifically in political leadership and regionalism, climate change and disasters, ocean and environment, peace and security, resources and economic development, people-centered development and technology.

The next PALM summit is scheduled to be held in 2027.

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