TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan will provide $3 million to Pacific island nations to help them implement measures against climate change, the Foreign Ministry said Monday, in an apparent bid to counter China's expanding clout in the region.

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya informed Baron Waqa, secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, of the decision during talks in Tokyo, noting that "strengthening the resilience of Pacific island countries is key to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region," according to the ministry.

Iwaya said that climate change is the "single greatest existential threat" to the Pacific island countries, while Waqa "highly valued" Tokyo's planned contribution as a demonstration of its "serious effort" to address the issue, the ministry said.

The two also agreed to set up a senior official-level dialogue between Japan and the 18-member body to strengthen communication and boost their cooperative relationship, it said.