RELEASE: Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meet ahead of PALM10 Summit

Yesterday the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders held a Caucus Meeting on the margins of the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) in Tokyo, Japan. This was an  opportunity for the PIF Leaders to consider key matters ahead of the PALM10, and the PIF Leaders meeting in Tonga. 

The PALM10 Summit today will be Co-Chaired by the Hon Mark Brown, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and Pacific Islands Forum Chair, with Hon Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, where priorities of common interest will be discussed – the outcomes of which will be outlined in the PALM10 Declaration. 

Forum Chair Mark Brown in his opening said, “I cannot underscore enough how important it is for us, as Leaders, to continue to dialogue, engage and discuss emerging opportunities and innovative ways to address challenges that face our Forum Family at every opportunity.”

The meeting also provided an opportunity for the Special Envoy of the President of New Caledonia, Mr Claude Gambey, to update Leaders on the political situation, and for Leaders to deliberate on the Forum’s ongoing support. 

As the Forum Chair remarked, “we are all committed to showing the Forum’s steadfast support to the situation in New Caledonia at the highest level…and while this matter is a complex one, it is very important for us to show leadership.”

The Tonga Prime Minister, Hon Hu’akavameiliku, as host of the Leaders Meeting in Tonga in August, took the opportunity to brief Leaders on his priorities for the meeting, as well as update on meeting arrangements.
 

ENDS