Pacific islands leaders to meet in Tokyo in July

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The Pacific Islands leaders are set to meet in Tokyo next month, 16 – 18 July, for the tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting 2024 (PALM10), with the Government of Japan.

Tongan Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku will attend the meeting.

PALM is a summit meeting held every three years since 1997 with the aim of contributing to regional stability and to strengthen the partnership between Pacific Island countries and Japan.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President, Tanaka Akihiko shared his support towards the upcoming PALM10.

He said the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent sets the principles that all partners must adhere to.

“Based on the challenges we have jointly faced as island nations, JICA will fully utilise our knowledge of the Pacific context to engage in the 2050 Strategy for further development of the Kingdom of Tonga and the region.

“Always keeping JICA’s vision of ‘Leading the World with Trust’ in mind, JICA will be a trusted partner of the people of Tonga/the Pacific in working together in the Pacific way, for its betterment of people’s life, human security, and sustainable nature,” he said.

JICA volunteers and technical experts have been working with Tonga for many years in various areas such as education, health, agriculture, fisheries, infrastructure, environment, and disaster risk reduction.