I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Pacific Islands Centre on its 25th anniversary. The Pacific Island Countries, situated in the same Pacific Ocean as Japan, have historically been favorable toward Japan. They have always been Japan's supportive partners in international forums such as the United Nations, and they are important regions for Japan in terms of fishing, minerals, and energy resources. The Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) is the only regular summit meeting for Pacific Island Countries that is hosted by a single country and attended by all its members. PALM, which was first held in 1997, is now in its ninth year. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the PALM 9 was held online, in which "5 priority areas of cooperation" for the next 3 years was discussed. Thanks to the great efforts of the Pacific Islands Centre and the continued development of PALM, the friendship and goodwill between Japan and the Pacific Island Countries has continued to be promoted in a variety of fields. I express my sincere gratitude and respect for its achievements over the past 25 years. Given their shared common values, the cooperation between Japan and the Pacific Island Countries is important. The Japan-Pacific island countries Parliamentary Friendship League was established in June 2014. Its role was to enhance the status of the Pacific Island Countries in Japanese politics, and to connect the Parliamentary Friendship League with other countries to create a single community. Since then, the Parliamentary Friendship League has served as an active exchange for the opinions of the ambassadors of various countries in Tokyo, holding meetings and receptions for visiting dignitaries from the Pacific Island Countries, and briefing Japanese Ambassadors when they temporarily return from the island countries. The direct voices of the Pacific Island Countries have been reflected in PALM as policy proposals from the Parliamentary Friendship League. The environment in which Japan and the Pacific Island Countries find themselves is changing dramatically every year. In order for the Pacific Island Countries to play an active role in the turbulent international society, they are required to make detailed efforts based on Japan's achievements and experience in international contributions. For example, based on the idea that the foundation of national prosperity is "human resource development," the Parliamentary League supported the human resource development and exchange of more than 5,500 people during the PALM 9. Many young people have received training in Japan through youth exchange and next-generation leader development programs. As a specific example of medical support such as supply of vaccines, we are promoting Japanese medical containers to the Pacific Island Countries. At the same time, a medical training program will be held at a university hospital to train medical personnel. This will enable young people who have returned to their home countries to engage in, and contribute to the healthcare field. We are also working closely with the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting & Governors, which was established by 14 local governments and the Pacific Island Countries. By combining the overall efforts of the Japanese government with the detailed efforts of local governments of the same size as the Pacific Island Countries, it will be possible to provide more thorough support. Rather than unilateral and forceful assistance by China, the Parliamentary League will promote detailed assistance for the sustainable and resilient development that takes advantage of Japan's strengths and is truly beneficial to the Pacific Island Countries, such as human resource development for young people who will be responsible for the country in the future, technical assistance, and the development of a strong infrastructure in areas that are frequently hit by the same natural disasters as Japan. From the perspective of security, it is also important to promote wide-area cooperation with such countries as Australia, NZ and so on that share common values. In the PLAM 9, the Parliamentary League has decided to promote cooperation in the fields of marine resources and the environment, including maritime security and fisheries based on the rule of law, and respond to the threat of China. At the Rugby World Cup held in Japan in 2019, players from the Pacific Island Countries were very successful. Exchanges with the host towns also became a hot topic, and the Cup was a major event that allowed us to feel closer to the Pacific Island Countries through culture and sports. And the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games was held in a safe and secure form with the participation of the Pacific Islands Countries. Every year we also interact with children from the Pacific Island Countries and foreign students at various workshops and exchange programs in Japan. I am impressed by their pure attitude with their eyes fixed forward. We must take this step further into the future. Japan will work together with you to promote assistance and policies that will be beneficial to the Pacific Island Countries in the future. In order to create a safe and secure the Pacific Island Countries, we, the Parliamentary League, pledge to make further efforts.
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