Japan's Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko is laying the groundwork for a Pacific nations summit in Tokyo later this year. She's stressing the need for more cooperation to tackle shared challenges such as climate change.

Kamikawa spoke to reporters in Fiji after attending preparatory talks for the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, to be held in the Japanese capital in July.

She says Japan is keen to strengthen ties with Pacific partners through human resources development and by addressing maritime issues.

Japan invites South Pacific leaders to the meeting once every three years. The first took place in 1997.