Over 30 island nations join inaugural ocean forum in Tokyo

TOKYO - Around 300 representatives from over 30 island nations gathered Wednesday in Tokyo for a two-day conference to discuss maritime conservation and measures to combat climate change, on a scale that Japan's Foreign Ministry said is unprecedented.

The inaugural Island States Ocean Summit, hosted by the Nippon Foundation, Japan's largest philanthropic foundation, brings together state leaders and other officials from countries in the Pacific and Indian oceans, as well as the Caribbean Sea.