Fourteen leaders from the Pacific Islands Forum will be attending the PALM10 meeting in Japan this week.
This was confirmed by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Senior deputy director, Iwasaki Ryuji during a briefing with Pacific media in Tokyo.
However, Kiribati President Taneti Maamau will be absent due to upcoming elections in the island nation and New Caledonia President Louis Mapou will not attend because of the political crisis in the French territory.
The Forum leaders are also expected to discuss the political crisis in New Caledonia.
Over the next two days, the attending leaders will hold bilateral meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.
Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is expected to arrive in Japan later tonight.
He will have a bilateral meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister on Wednesday and is anticipated to sign two Memorandums of Cooperation (MOC) with Japan.
The PALM Summit is scheduled for Thursday.
The main topics of interest for the Pacific Island countries will include climate change, fisheries, and development support from Japan.
Additionally, there are concerns about the release of treated wastewater from the disabled Fukushima nuclear plant.
The Forum has requested that the Fukushima issue be made a standing item on the PALM agenda, as nuclear-related issues remain sensitive in the Pacific region.
