### 7. Oceania

The Pacific Island countries are not only Japan’s neighbors that share the Pacific Ocean, but also have historical ties to Japan. Having an enormous Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), these countries and regions are the cornerstone of Japan's maritime transport, and provide important deep-sea fishing grounds. The peace and prosperity of the Pacific Islands are extremely important to Japan.

Meanwhile, many of the Pacific island countries have achieved independence relatively recently, and there is an urgent need for them to establish themselves as socio-economically self-reliant nations. In addition, there are a number of difficulties that island countries and regions face in particular, such as small-scale economies, dependence on primary industries, geographic dispersion, lack of easy access to international markets, vulnerability to natural disasters, and the risk of losing national territory for rising ocean levels. Further, the region faces problems related to democratization such as political turmoil in Fiji.

Based on such circumstances, Japan provides assistance taking into consideration the situation in each country and region, as a good partner to the Pacific Islands.

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To achieve political stability and self-reliant economic development in the Pacific Island countries, it is crucial to overcome socio-economic vulnerabilities and to provide cooperation for the entire region. In addition to promoting cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) $ ^{28} $ , a framework for regional cooperation composed of the leaders of the Pacific island countries, Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM), which is the summit meeting between Japan and Pacific Island countries, has been held once every three years since 1997.

At the 5th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALMS) held in Tomamu, Hokkaido in May 2009, Japan committed to provide assistance to the extent of ¥50 billion by the next Summit Meeting in Okinawa scheduled for 2012. In the environment/climate change area, one of the three pillars of this assistance, Japan proposed the initiative of the Pacific Environment Community for cooperation between Japan and the Pacific Islands countries. Japan also provides support to overcome vulnerabilities facing Pacific island countries from the perspective of human security. Further, Japan has implemented the “Kizuna” Plan, promoting people-to-people exchange, including

A physical therapist of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer provides guidance for a walking exercise in Papua New Guinea (Photo: Masaki Haraguchi)

youth exchange for more than 1,000 people in the next three years from 2009 between Japan and the Pacific island countries.

The PALM Ministerial Interim Meeting was held for the first time in October 2010 in order to follow up the outcomes of PALM 5 as well as to prepare for PALM 6.

At the 40th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting held in Cairns, Australia in August 2009, the Cairns Compact was adopted with the goal of promoting aid coordination for the development of the PIF member countries and regions. Japan also contributes to the promotion of aid coordination including through the Cairns Compact to achieve effective and efficient development in Oceania.

The Pacific island countries share development challenges in the areas of the environment/climate change, education, and health. In order to achieve the sustainable development of these countries, Japan provides cooperation not only for each individual country, but also engages in regional cooperation that considers the benefit to the entire Pacific region.

For example, in the field of environment and climate