SHIMUKAPPU, Hokkaido (Kyodo) Prime Minister Taro Aso announced Saturday that he would offer ¥50 billion in aid to Pacific island nations for the next three years to help them counter climate change and other challenges.
Concluding a two-day summit in Shimukappu, Hokkaido, the 16 Pacific Islands Forum members and Japan adopted a joint declaration affirming stronger ties and cooperation in dealing with climate change by forming a "Pacific Environment Community."
The ¥50 billion in aid, up from the ¥45 billion Japan offered at the previous Pacific islands summit in 2006, includes ¥6.8 billion aid to facilitate solar power generation and seawater desalination.