Fiji’s presidency of COP23, the ongoing UN climate negotiations, has been the focus of talks in Tokyo.

This was between the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, and the Japanese Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kiyoshi Odagawa.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum, who is the Minister responsible for Climate Change, echoed the Prime Minister’s call for Fiji’s development partners to do everything possible to support Fiji’s presidency on behalf of Pacific island nations and other vulnerable parts of the world.

Mr Odagawa highlighted Japan’s existing support for Fiji assuming the presidency and both agreed on the need for a concerted global effort to advance the commitments made in the Paris Agreement of 2015.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum also thanked the Japanese government for the assistance provided to Fiji in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Winston.

He said Fiji deeply appreciated Japan’s contribution to the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts initiated by the Fijian Government, such as the ‘Adopt a School” programme.

The two ministers also discussed the Nadi River Rehabilitation Project. In this project, Japan is providing assistance for a long-term solution to the problem of flooding in Nadi and surrounding areas.

He stressed that this project was critical for Fiji because of Nadi’s position as the country’s international gateway.

He acknowledged the development assistance provided to Fiji through the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and said Fiji welcomed Japanese technology in development initiatives, including climate adaptation projects that would create opportunities for the Japanese private sector.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is leading the Fijian delegation to the 50th Asian Development Bank Annual General Meeting in Yokohama, which concludes tomorrow.

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