The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), met with senior officials of Japan in Tokyo this week as part of the Japan–Pacific Islands Forum Kizuna Talanoa dialogue.
The Kizuna Talanoa is a senior officials dialogue between Japan and PIFS, established to strengthen exchanges to support the implementation of the priorities agreed by the Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum countries and Japan under their Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) in 2024.
For the first time, the Government of Japan expanded the Kizuna Talanoa platform to include Forum Troika Members (Tonga, Solomon Islands and Palau) as well.
The Kizuna Talanoa first convened on 11 July 2025 in Suva, Fiji and has since become an important platform complementing high-level engagements, including PALM and its related Ministerial Interim Meetings.
Ambassador Jiro Okuyama, Japan’s lead representative for PALM, reaffirmed Japan’s strong support for regional solidarity under the PALM framework and the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
He also provided updates on Japan’s preparations for the upcoming PALM Ministerial Interim Meeting to be held later this year and the PALM meeting next year.
The Forum delegation highlighted the importance of its partnership with Japan, a longstanding and trusted regional partner.
Discussions also covered preparations for the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PIFLM55) in Palau, progress on the Review of the Regional Architecture, and Japan’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy. Other issues discussed included Japan’s upcoming Oceans Summit and the ongoing cooperation on ALPS treated water.
Japan has been a Forum Dialogue Partner since 1989. Through the PALM framework, Japan and Forum Members continue to work together to advance shared priorities, strengthen regional resilience, and address common challenges and opportunities across the Blue Pacific Continent.
