Welcome Reception Hosted by Chief Cabinet Secretary and His Spouse on the Occasion of the Tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10)

[Provisional translation]

  On July 16, 2024, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, and his spouse, Dr. HAYASHI Yuko, held a welcome reception in Tokyo, inviting participants in the Tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10).
 
Mr. Hayashi said in his speech:
 
“Thank you very much for the kind introduction. I am HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan. I would like to welcome to Japan Hon. Mark BROWN, Prime Minister of Cook Islands and co-chair of the Tenth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10), leaders and representatives of the Pacific island countries and region, Australia and New Zealand.
 
I would also like to offer my heartfelt appreciation to relevant Ministers, Ambassadors, lawmakers and all others present here today for taking the time to attend this reception despite their tight schedule.
 
We are proud to say that Japan has worked closely with the Pacific Island countries and region to achieve their development for 27 years since the establishment of the PALM process in 1997.
 
As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I visited Republic of Fiji and Republic of Palau in 2022, and the Solomon Islands and the Cook Islands in 2023. I was fascinated by their beautiful nature and, through interactions with local people, I was able to feel firsthand the “kizuna” (bond) between Japan and the Pacific island countries and region that has been built by our ancestors.
 
This “kizuna” has been nurtured not only by the Government, but also by all those concerned who offered their efforts under the slogan of “All-Japan,” including lawmakers, local governments and economic and academic organizations.
 
I understand that the Japan-Pacific island countries Parliamentary Friendship League has pursued active parliamentary diplomacy to give momentum to the PALM. I have also heard that the PALM&G (Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting and Governors) successfully held a meeting today, which symbolizes increasingly active exchanges between municipalities. Such multi-layered connections surely lay the foundation for the PALM.
 
We now live in an age characterized by multiple crises, including climate change. We have no time to waste in addressing those urgent issues. On the basis of the unwavering “kizuna,” we hope that the PALM10 will be an opportunity to join hands to find solutions to them.
 
In closing, I would like to wish all of you good health and happiness and express my hope for the success of the PALM10 and further development of our “kizuna” toward the future. Thank you very much for your attention.”