A meeting of Japanese intellectuals and opinion leaders was held with the aim of enhancing mutual understanding between Japan and the Pacific island nations. With the Sasakawa Pacific Island Nations Fund acting as the Forum's secretariat, some twenty participants, including ODA officials, environmentalists and representatives of island support groups, gathered on the remote island of Amami-Oshima in southwestern Japan. The participants delivered reports on their respective activities, engaged in vigorous discussions on island issues, and toured the host island to observe the efforts being made to stimulate the local economy. They also formulated guidelines for creating a permanent forum from the group, subsequent meetings of which would be held on different remote islands in Japan so as to strengthen ties among the host island communities. From FY1995, the forum is to include participants from the Pacific island region itself.