TOKYO, Japan – From July 16-18 2024, His Excellency Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), attended the 10th Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM10) held in Tokyo, where leaders from the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and Japan gathered to strengthen their partnership. Co-chaired by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan and Prime Minister Mark Brown of the Cook Islands, the meeting resulted in the PALM10 Leaders Declaration and for the first time in the PALM process, an accompanying Joint Action Plan.
In his address at the PALM10, President Simina emphasized the importance of “People-Centered Development,” highlighting the deep and enduring bond, or “Kizuna,” between the peoples of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members and Japan. He commended Japan’s commitment to enhancing people-to-people exchanges and noted the significant benefits these exchanges have brought to the FSM, including youth exchange programs like JENESYS and the Children Exchange Program with Micronesian Islands, technical training initiatives such as the SDG Global Leaders Program and the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program, and various scholarship opportunities.
President Simina also acknowledged the valuable contributions of JICA volunteers to the FSM, calling them the best Japanese ambassadors to the island communities. He welcomed Japan’s support for Phase 2 of the Pacific Regional Education Framework, which aligns with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent’s focus on People-Centered Development.
President Simina called for a collective commitment from Pacific leaders to improve health and well-being, strengthen resilience against future health system shocks, and address the shortage of well-trained medical personnel. He reaffirmed FSM’s commitment to universal health coverage, as adopted during the recent 2024 Health Summit, and expressed readiness to collaborate with Japan and other development partners in this area.
Emphasizing the significance of women’s leadership, President Simina highlighted his administration’s efforts towards bridging the gap in gender equality, stating that women’s “participation enhances governance, leading to more holistic decisions that benefit everyone.”
President Simina also expressed appreciation for Japan’s continued support for the East-Micronesia Cable (EMC) and other subsea cables under installation in the Pacific region. He reiterated FSM’s commitment to working closely with fellow Pacific Island Countries to ensure the successful implementation of these projects, which aim to provide better health services and quality education to the Micronesian people.
On the margins of the PALM10, President Simina held a productive bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida where they discussed areas areas of mutual importance and cooperation, including in sustainable fisheries, the East Micronesia Cable project and the new wharf to be constructed in Pohnpei state. Prime Minister Kishida noted President Simina’s emphasis on unity in his administration and as such, stated that he has decided to enhance cooperation to support this vision.
President Simina submitted the FSM’s need for a cargo/passenger vessel, in order to support marine transportation across the vast expanse of the FSM. President Simina also raised the matter of the oil leakages from WWII shipwrecks that remain in Chuuk lagoon, and submitted the FSM’s request for Japan’s continued support to supplement and expedite the ongoing efforts to safely extract the oil.
On the margins of PALM10, President Simina and Madame First Lady Ancelly Simina, paid a visit to the Imperial Palace, where they met with their majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako along with the rest of the PIF leaders family. President Simina also met with the New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Rt Hon Winston Peters where they discussed cooperation particularly on climate change as well as the upcoming PIF in Tonga. Concluding the President’s bilateral engagements was a meeting with the President of JICA, Dr. Akihiko Tanaka to discuss the continued partnership and the way forward for future JICA volunteers.
The remainder of the President’s itinerary while in Japan include the MRA (Micronesian Registration Advisors) Seminar, the 1 year anniversary celebration of the new FSM embassy as well as outreach to Kochi and Osaka prefectures.
(The PALM10 Leaders Declaration can be found at: https://forumsec.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/PALM10%20Declaration_Final.pdf)
(The Joint Action Plan can be found at: https://forumsec.org/sites/default/files/2024-07/Annex_PALM%2010%20Joint%20Action%20Plan_Final.pdf)
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