Courtesy Call on Prime Minister Kishida by Secretary General Waqa of Pacific Islands Forum (Summary)

[Provisional Translation]

On July 16, commencing at 5:35pm for approximately 25 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, received a courtesy call from Hon. Mr. Baron Waqa, Secretary General, Pacific Islands Forum, who is visiting Japan to participate in the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10). The overview of the meeting is as follows:

1. Prime Minister Kishida stated that at PALM 10, with the cooperation of Secretary General Waqa, he wishes to further strengthen the “kizuna” between Japan and the Pacific Island countries, to discuss cooperation aligned with the “2050 Strategy for Blue Pacific Continent,” and to make the meeting an opportunity to communicate domestically as well as internationally the direction that Japan and the Pacific Island countries are taking together.
2. Prime Minister Kishida expressed strong support for the regional unity and expectations for the role of the PIF Secretariat. In addition, he stated that he would cooperate while utilizing Japan’s knowledge and experience aligned with the “2050 Strategy for Blue Pacific Continent“ and would implement projects on promoting trade, investment and tourism between Japan and Pacific Island countries through the Pacific Island Centre (PIC) based in Tokyo. Secretary General Waqa expressed his hope for successful PALM 10, and his gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for Japan’s cooperation and stated that he looked forward to enhanced cooperation with Japan.
3. Regarding the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea, Prime Minister Kishida explained that Japan would continue its efforts to ensure safety.