DHAKA: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday pledged US$453 million in aid to Pacific island nations to help them combat climate change and natural disasters.

Abe made the pledge as leaders of 14 Pacific island nations gathered for a two-day meeting that began on Friday in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, to discuss their development needs.

‘As a pledge of the Japanese government, we will provide no less than 55 billion yen ($453 million) to you in the upcoming three years... in order to foster resilient capabilities that will not be defeated by climate change or disasters,’ Abe told the meeting, reports The Straits Times.

The seventh round of the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) came as host Japan attempts to boost its profile in the Pacific, at a time of growing Chinese economic and political influence in the region.

BDST: 1132 HRS, MAY 23, 2015
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