Japan's Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has pledged US$453 million in aid to the Pacific to help the countries fight climate change and natural disasters.
The pledge was made at the end of the Pacific Island Leaders Meeting between Japan and the leaders of 14 Pacific nations.
At the end of the two-day meeting in Fukushima prefecture, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promised to provide no less than 55 billion yen over the next three years to help combat rising sea levels and extreme climate events.
Highlighting Cyclone Pam and Typhoon Maysak, two category five systems that devastated Vanuatu and Federated States of Micronesia this year, Mr Abe said disaster risk reduction remained one of the Pacific and Japan's most important challenges.
He also urged members of the meeting, known as PALM 7, to work together for a peaceful and prosperous Pacific.
Japan also recognised Niue as a sovereign country for the first time.
