Heads of coast guards from more than 30 countries gathered in Tokyo on Thursday to discuss a wealth of issues, including how to cope with pirates, an increase in the number of boat people, and environmental pollution caused by a massive oil spill at sea.
The Coast Guard Global Summit, jointly hosted by the Japan Coast Guard and Tokyo-based Nippon Foundation, is the first of its kind, Japanese officials in Tokyo said.
Officers from 34 nations and Hong Kong took part in the event.