Rabuka attends PALM10 conference in Tokyo

Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Manoa Kamikamica will serve as acting Prime Minister as Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka travels to Tokyo, Japan this week for the October 10^day Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10).

As he did when the first PALM Summit was held in 1997, Rabuka will lead the Fijian government delegation to the 10th Summit.

Rabuka said he looked forward to working with leaders of the 18 Pacific Islands Forum member countries to further strengthen the forum’s vision of a peaceful, harmonious, secure, socially inclusive and prosperous Pacific region.

The PALM10 Summit will also be an opportunity to renew the PALM partnership between Japan and Pacific countries in building a stronger and more resilient Pacific, ensuring that all Pacific peoples can live free, healthy and productive lives.

Discussions at the summit will also focus on coordinating the implementation of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy, covering climate action, environment, people-centred economic development, and technology and connectivity.

Rabuka will attend a series of official events, including a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The bilateral meeting between the two leaders is expected to further strengthen the diplomatic relations between Fiji and Japan, which over the years have expanded to include important areas such as climate change, disaster risk management, health, and social and economic development.

The two leaders will also discuss the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan International Cooperation System (JICS), which have over the years empowered Fijian communities through various development programmes.

The Prime Minister was accompanied on the visit by the Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Pita Wise, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development, Isoa Talemaibua and Investment Fiji Chief Executive Officer, Kamal Chetty.

The PALM10 Summit begins today and will end on Thursday.