Prime Minister Kishida’s Meeting with the Delegation of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)

[Provisional translation]
 

On February 7, commencing at 6:20 p.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, held a meeting with the delegation of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), led by Hon. Mark Brown，Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, who is currently visiting Japan. The summary of the meeting is as follows. Hon. Ms. Kitlang Kabua, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Hon. Henry Puna, Secretary General of the PIF Secretariat also attended the meeting.

1. At the outset, Prime Minister Kishida stated that Japan has built cooperative relationship with the PIF for more than 20 years and welcomed the trust-based dialogues taking place in a variety of areas.Prime Minister Kishida also expressed his desire to further deepen ties with Pacific Island countries region under the vision of a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific."

2. The PIF side expressed appreciation for Japan’s commitment and support to the Pacific Island countries through the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) and other initiatives.

3. Prime Minister Kishida reiterated, as Prime Minister of Japan bearing responsibility to the Japanese people and the international community, his commitment to ensuring that the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea will not be allowed in a manner that endangers the lives of Japanese citizens or those of the citizens of Pacific Island countries, and adversely affects human health and the marine environment. In response, the PIF side welcomed Prime Minister Kishida’s determination to ensure the safety of the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea and expressed their willingness to continue close communication with Japan. Both sides concurred in the importance of the intensive dialogue on this matter.

4. Both sides concurred to work closely together for the success of the PALM 10 in 2024.