On 23rd February 2021, His Majesty the Emperor of Japan will celebrate
his 61st birthday. As Ambassador of Japan, I was supposed to host a
reception to celebrate His Majesty’s birthday with the people of the
Independent State of Samoa. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has yet to
end, the number of victims is still increasing, and health workers around
the world are battling with this disease without rest. Samoa also
continues to extend its State of Emergency Order for COVID-19.
I therefore have decided, instead of hosting the reception for this year, but
to send my message to all my dear friends “E tumau pea le faigapa’aga a
Iapani ma Samoa” (Japan is with the people of Samoa!).
Through this message, I would also like to introduce Japan's initiatives
focusing on assistance for countermeasures to COVID-19 pandemic
through collaboration with the Pacific island countries (PICs).
Firstly, let me begin with Japan’s assistance to the COVID-19 pandemic
which has obviously been threatening the lives of the people of the PICs.
International coordination and cooperation are essential to tackle with the
pandemic and the human security crisis. To bring the pandemic under
control as soon as possible and to prepare for future crises, Japan will
actively contribute itself to helping PICs and developing countries bolster
their health and medical systems. In order to promote Universal Health
Coverage with the spirit of “leaving no one’s health behind”, Japan will
extend its full support to ensure equitable access to vaccines for all,
including those in developing countries.
As part of international concerted efforts, in October 2020, Japan
announced to contribute no less than 130 million USD to the COVID-19
Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Advance Market Commitment to enable
PICs and developing countries to ensure equitable access to the
vaccines. I am very happy that the COVAX Facility is now in operation and
the vaccines are about to be distributed to Samoa.
Secondly, I would like to refer to Japan’s collaboration with Samoa and
other PICs. Japan and PICs are in so important and long-standing
partnership, sharing the Pacific Ocean and addressing common
challenges. Further enhancing this partnership, Japan has been hosting
summit-level meeting named the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM)
every three years since 1997. Through the PALM, Japan and PICs have
been building close cooperative relationships and forging the bond of
friendship. The Honorable Prime Minister Tuilaepa is the only leader who

has participated in all meetings of the PALM and co-chaired with the
former Prime Minister of Japan ABE Shinzo at the last meeting (PALM8).
That meeting was held at the Spa Resort Hawaiians in Iwaki City,
Fukushima Prefecture in 2018.
Then this year, 2021, Japan will host PALM9 where the leaders of 19
countries and regions will get together and discuss urgent agenda such
as COVID-19 pandemic as well as climate change and natural disasters.
As preparatory for PALM9, the Ministerial Interim Meeting was held online
on 20 October last year, and the Ministers recognised the devastating
health, social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the
importance of regional and multilateral collaboration to respond and
recover.
To respond to their recognition, Japan emphasised its determination to
support PICs, in cooperation with international and regional
organisations, not only through short term assistance but also through
mid-to-long term assistance to strengthen their health care systems amid
the COVID-19 pandemic. The assistance includes the provision of 4 billion
JPY worth of medical equipment and 580 million JPY worth of technical
support and medical supplies.
Japan also expressed its intention to assist PICs to respond to economic
difficulties caused by COVID-19 as well as to achieve longer-term
sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Japan also emphasised that
it was working closely with other development partners such as Australia,
New Zealand and the United Nations organisations to support PICs by
providing assistance for health systems, economic recovery and
infrastructure needs.
Further, the Ministers expressed their commitment to together building a
stable, resilient, and prosperous Pacific region in the post COVID-19 era.
To achieve this commitment, participating members will deepen their
discussions on many issues of cooperation in the process towards
PALM9.
Finally, I underline that Japan is steadily preparing for the Tokyo Olympic
and Paralympic Games midyear with safety and security as the highest
priority issue so that we can welcome Samoa’s national team of athletes
and officers to Japan. I would like to conclude this message by stating “E
tumau pea le faigapa’aga a Iapani ma Samoa” (Japan is always with the
people of Samoa!)
Fa’afetai lava. Soifua!