PIF HQ, Suva, Jan 2022—Forum Secretary General Henry Puna has welcomed the growth of international partnerships for the organisation. The 51st Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), held on 6 August 2021, saw Forum Leaders provide in-principal approval for Forum Dialogue Partner status for Chile, Norway and Singapore.
“Forging strategic ‘International partnerships’ is indispensable in our collective effort to advance our regional priorities, and on this note we welcome Chile, Norway and Singapore to the Forum Dialogue Partners table. To begin 2022 with 21 global partners at the table, is a vote of confidence in the value of the region as a partner, and most importantly the value of the relationship with Forum Leaders afforded by these partnerships,” said Forum SG Henry Puna.
In their applications for Forum dialogue partner status, the three new partners identified oceans and climate change as key priorities for closer ties with the Forum. SG Puna added, “From five founding Dialogue Partners in 1989 to the global family we have today, Pacific Leaders continue to strive for genuine, effective, transparent and accountable partnerships, of lasting benefit to our people. We look ahead to meaningful collaboration with the incoming dialogues partners, in the years ahead.’
From the new Dialogue Partners, Chile’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrés Allamand said, “Chile welcomes its recent incorporation as a Dialogue Partner of the Pacific Islands Forum. It represents a new and significant opportunity to collaborate with the Pacific Islands and it is a milestone for the development of Chile’s foreign policy in the region. Certainly, this new stage of cooperation, especially regarding climate change and ocean preservation, allows us to move forward on urgent issues of great global concern".
From Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anniken Huitfeldt, “Norway warmly welcomes the decision made by the Pacific Islands Forum to accept Norway as a Forum Dialogue Partner. Norway and PIF members have closely aligned interests in various areas, including multilateral and UN efforts to implement the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. As a Forum Dialogue Partner, we look forward to cooperating even more closely with the PIF on these and other issues of mutual interest, such as promoting and strengthening ocean and climate action, sustainable development, democratic values, multilateral cooperation and the rules-based international order.”
Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan also weighed in to say that “Singapore is honoured to be admitted as a Dialogue Partner of the PIF. We have longstanding relations with the Pacific Islands and look forward to an active and constructive partnership. We face common challenges from climate change and the imperative to expand opportunities for our citizens in a vital part of the world.”
The Forum Dialogue Partner mechanism facilitates dialogue and engagement with countries outside of the Blue Pacific region, to build understanding, support and action on the Forum Leaders’ vision and priorities. Forum Dialogue Partners meet annually with Pacific Leaders as part of the Pacific Islands Forum. --ENDS
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