TOKYO -- Leaders and representatives from 16 Pacific Island countries, plus Australia and New Zealand, gathered in Tokyo this week for the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10). Japan has hosted a PALM meeting every three years since 1997, with this year's edition focusing on strengthening bilateral ties as China increases its clout in the region.
On the sidelines of PALM10, Nikkei Asia interviewed officials from eight of those countries and regions. Here are excerpts from the interviews.