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The Embassy of the Republic of Fiji and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation jointly hosted a seminar "Recent Trends in Pacific Regionalism and the Role of Japan"

2014.12.05

The Sasakawa Pacific Island Nations Fund and the Embassy of the Republic of Fiji jointly organized a seminar on 27th November 2014. The seminar was aimed to explore the recent regional trends and the outlook for the Pacific Island nations along with the role that Japan could play.

(Photo: H.E. Mr. Isikeli Uluinairai Mataitoga, Welcoming Remarks)
For this seminar, the Interim Secretary General Mr. Feleti Teo of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) was invited, and this was the first visit to Japan by high ranking official from this newly established regional body. The seminar received contribution of seven prominent speakers including Professor Michael O'Keefe of La Trobe University, Australia and Professor Izumi Kobayashi, President of Japan Pacific Islands Association along with some of the Pacific Island nations' ambassadors to Japan based in Tokyo. Discussions were held on recent dynamic evolution of regional cooperation in the Pacific island countries as well as the outlook and implications of recent development.

(Photos: Bottom Left - Session 1 "Pacific Regionalism and Pacific Island Country Partnerships" / Bottom Right - Mr. Feleti Teo, Interim Secretary General, PIDF)
 
A total of 173 people attended to the seminar as an audience, and there were lively discussions during QA sessions. Presentation documents of the speakers can be found via the below links in the program. A video clip and a summary of the seminar contents will be published soon.

(Phtos: Bottom Left - Session 2 "Towards Enhanced Economic Partnership and the Role of Japan" / Bottom Right - Dr. Michael O'Keefe, La Trobe University, Australia)
 
"Recent Trends in Pacific Regionalism and the Role of Japan"

Welcoming Remarks:
H.E. Mr. Isikeli Uluinairai Mataitoga, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, The Embassy of Republic of Fiji
Ms. Junko Chano, Executive Director, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation

Session 1 "Pacific Regionalism and Pacific Island Country Partnerships"
Moderator: H.E. Mr. Isikeli Uluinairai Mataitoga
Mr. Feleti Teo
Interim Secretary General, Pacific Islands Development Forum
"Recent trends in Pacific regionalism: PIDF's innovative leadership for inclusive sustainable development"
Mr. Yukihiro Wada
Director, Oceania Division, Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
"Japan-Pacific Island Countries partnerships : Toward developed regional cooperation through PALM process"
H.E. Leiataua Tuitolova'a Dr. Kilifoti Eteuati
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Independent State of Samoa

Session 2 "Towards Enhanced Economic Partnership and the Role of Japan"
Moderator: Prof. Izumi Kobayashi, President, Japan Pacific Islands Association /
Professor of Political Science, Faculty of International Studies, Osaka Gakuin University
H.E. Mr. Gabriel John Klero Dusava
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, The Embassy of Papua New Guinea
"Japan's Role and 'Development Policy' towards the Pacific Island Countries"
Dr. Michael O'Keefe
Deputy Director, Institute of Human Security and Social Change, La Trobe University, Australia
"Japanese Aid Diplomacy in Pacific Island Countries: Does the new regional architecture demand a review of Japanese Aid Policy Priority and Delivery?"
Mr. Takahiro Kitano
Chairman and President, Executive Officer, Kitano Construction Corporation
Pagetop