Prime Minister Taro Aso announced May 23 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."

By helping the Pacific island nations cope with climate change, which has become a crucial issue for them, Japan apparently aims to enhance its global presence in the run-up to a key U.N. climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December to adopt a successor treaty to the Kyoto Protocol.