New Caledonia at Palm 9
06 July 2021
The 9th Pacific Islands Leaders' Summit (PALM* 9) could not meet in Japan, but took place on July 2 by videoconference. New Caledonia was represented by the President of the Government Thierry Santa and Minister Jean-Louis d'Anglebermes.
The Pacific Islands Leaders' Summit (PALM) brings together the Heads of State and Territory of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) member countries every three years, under the chairmanship of Japan. This is New Caledonia's second participation since becoming a full member of the PIF in September 2016.
Among the items on the agenda of Palm 9, Japan reaffirmed its willingness to strengthen its cooperation with FIP Member States and Territories through, among other things, a new policy called "Kizuna" (strengthening ties with the Pacific).
Underwater Observatory
Invited to speak on the issues of climate change and resilience to natural disasters, New Caledonia, through the voices of Thierry Santa and Jean-Louis d'Anglebermes, recalled that "cooperation between the Japanese people and the peoples of Oceania are essential to better understand the evolution of our natural environment. The President of the 16th Government thus evoked the project of creation of a Franco-Japanese underwater observatory, based in New Caledonia, which will be used in particular for the prevention of natural risks in Oceania.
Joint Declaration
On the issue of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, the Forum renewed its call for "independent and verifiable expertise" to ensure minor environmental and health impacts when Japan gradually releases wastewater into the Pacific over a 40-year period, starting in 2023. In addition, this 9th official meeting of Pacific leaders was the occasion to sign a joint declaration backed by an action plan. This document lists the priority commitments of Japan which concern the logistic and financial regional support linked to the COVID-19 the health crisis, the economic recovery and the challenges associated with the effects of the climate change. Thierry Santa welcomed Japan's commitment "to implement its partnership policy in the region, in the spirit of a free and opened Pacific and completely integrated in the Indo-Pacific axis that France simultaneously tries to implement."
*PAcific island Leaders Meeting
Bilateral Meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan
Ahead of this high-level regional meeting, a bilateral meeting took place on Thursday 1 July between Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the President of the Government Thierry Santa and Minister Jean-Louis d'Anglebermes. This courtesy exchange allowed the representatives of New Caledonia to underline "the historical and commercial links that exist between the two countries". The Japanese community has been present in New Caledonia for several generations and Japan remains a privileged economic partner through the export of seafood and nickel, the reciprocal visit of tourists (nearly 20,000 Japanese tourists visited New Caledonia in 2019), or air services between the two countries.
