PM Meets Fijian Community
Mr Bainimarama told those present that the bilateral meetings at PALM8 were “fruitful”.
Notable achievements were made in the meeting with Mr Abe, including a commitment by Japan to aid Pacific development projects and enhance maritime enforcement capacity building.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama met members of the Fijian community living in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday. He gave them an update on the outcomes of the 8th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM8) at Iwaki City. Without going into specifics Mr Bainimarama told those present that the bilateral meetings at PALM8 were “fruitful”.
The meeting was between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and leaders from 14 Pacific Island countries, plus representatives from New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Australia and New Zealand. Notable achievements were made in the meeting with Mr Abe, including a commitment by Japan to aid Pacific development projects and enhance maritime enforcement capacity building. Present at the meeting were Fijians studying under the Japanese Government-funded Pacific Leaders’ Educational Assistance for Development of State (LEADS) scholarship programme.
Japan has agreed to boost people- to-people exchange with the Pacific Island Countries.
It plans to train some 5000 people during the next three years in a bid to improve Human Resources in the region.
In a Talanoa session, the students raised issues about the advertising of some of their posts in Fiji while they were studying, which Mr Bainimarama said he would look into.
The PM urged the students to work hard and be worthy ambassadors for the country in Japan.
Fijian embassy officials were also present at the meeting.