The 7th Our Ocean Conference

Video Message

Alii, Good afternoon, Your Excellency, Surangel Whipps Jr., President, Republic of Palau, Your Excellency Steven Victor, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and the Environment, The Honorable John Kerry, United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Excellencies, distinguished delegates and participants and dear friends of Palau. I would like to express my admiration to the outstanding leadership of President Whipps and Former President Remengesau, and the total commitment of the people of Palau and all involved in hosting this important “Our Ocean Conference”, as an in-person event, despite the difficulties of having to confront COVID 19 pandemic.

The ocean which is a public asset of mankind is facing serious problems such as acidification, contamination by chemicals, and ocean debris. I believe that the ocean crisis is none other than a crisis of the survival of humankind. In the past, these global ocean issues were handled mainly by the big powers. But, to our delight the Republic of Palau、one of the first island nations to be affected by the worsening ocean environment, has now been asserting significant leadership. It is Palau that has proposed extraordinary ideas such as the development of sustainable blue economy and the creation of marine sanctuary for the preservation of the ocean and now hosts the seventh Our Ocean Conference. I am very happy to see that the presence of Palau is gaining importance in the world.

The oceans must be leveraged with discipline and in a peaceful manner so as to pass on sustainable and healthy oceans for thousand years into the future. For that, The Nippon Foundation will continue to cooperate with Palau, a country tightly bonded like brothers both with Japan and through history. Thank you very much.