The Cook Islands, in its capacity as Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), represented by Ms. Mackenzi Wichman, Director of the International and Trade Division, co-chaired the first Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) with Japan on 23rd January 2023. His Excellency, Mr Toshihisa Takata, Japan's Ambassador for PALM and former Ambassador for Japan to the Cook Islands, led Japan in the deliberations.
This meeting serves as a precursor to the forthcoming 5th PALM Interim Ministerial Meeting, scheduled to take place in Suva, Fiji.
The SOM provided a platform for PIF Members and Japan to review progress on the PALM9 Leaders Declaration from 2021. It also afforded an opportunity for discussion on future possible areas of cooperation between Japan and the PIF, setting the stage for the negotiation of the PALM10 document.
In her introductory remarks, Director Wichman welcomed Japan’s elevated engagement with the PIF throughout 2023 with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hosting PIF Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown to a visit to Japan in February to discuss the ALPS issue, followed by a visit to the Pacific by then Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and participation of the PIF through Prime Minister Brown in the G7 Summit hosted by Japan in Hiroshima, at the invitation of Prime Minister Kishida.
For the PIF, the key message was the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, and the Implementation Plan approved by PIF Leaders at their meeting in Rarotonga at the end of last year frame the partnerships they seek and engage as a collective, including with Japan. In her opening remarks, Director Wichman said “the value and strength of our partnerships will be measured against commitments and support for the priorities outlined in the 2050 IP. Partnerships will be central to the achievement of those priorities and outcomes”.