Japan – Samoa Summit Meeting (Summary)

[Provisional translation]

On July 17, commencing at 11:20am for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. KISHIDA Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, held a Japan-Samoa Summit Meeting with H.E. Ms. Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Foreign Affairs of the Independent State of Samoa, 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 Prime Minister Fiame, 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 stated that Japan fully shares the sense of crisis that climate change is the single greatest existential threat and expressed his expectations that the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC) will serve as a hub for promoting human resource development and the sharing of information and technology in the region, by emphasizing the importance of assistance to the PCCC. In addition, he mentioned the provision of data from the meteorological satellite, “Himawari”, and collaboration with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) based in Samoa. Regarding disaster prevention cooperation, he announced the decision to provide chemical fire engines. Prime Minister Fiame expressed her hope for successful PALM 10, and her gratitude to the Government and people of Japan for Japan’s cooperation and stated that she looked forward to enhanced cooperation between the two countries.
3. Regarding the discharge of ALPS treated water into the sea, Prime Minister Kishida explained that Japan would continue its efforts to ensure safety, and Prime Minister Fiame expressed her warm welcome.
4. Both leaders also exchanged views on various regional issues.