STATEMENT
CHAIR OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM
Cook Islands PM Mark Brown
SIGNING OF THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU)
BETWEEN THE
SECRETARIATS OF ASEAN AND PIF
Monday, 4 September 2023
1245 - 1305
Venue: ASEAN Hall
Excellencies,
• Kia Orana and warm Pacific greetings to you all.
• I thank you for the opportunity to share a few brief reflections in my capacity as the Prime
Minister of the Cook Islands and indeed, as the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum.
• At the outset, allow me to acknowledge the significance of this event.
• It reaffirms the value of partnerships and cooperation in today’s world. It reaffirms the value
of globalisation and knowledge-sharing in a fluid and evolving geostrategic landscape. And
most especially, it reaffirms the importance and value of relationships.
• Indeed, if there is one key thing that we have learnt as a result of the pandemic, it is that we
cannot underscore enough the importance of partnerships and international cooperation.
• In a few short months, I and my country will host the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum under the
theme: Our Voices, Our Choices, Our Pacific Way: Promote, Partner, Prosper.
• This signing ceremony today, represents our shared vision to, together, strengthen cooperation
between our respective regions.
• The MoU before us, encapsulates our shared commitment to working together toward a
brighter and more prosperous future for all our nations.
• It highlights our collaboration in a wide array of areas, including maritime cooperation,
connectivity, Sustainable Development Goals, economic partnerships, and much more.
• We are also prioritizing people-to-people exchanges, disaster risk reduction, humanitarian
assistance, and the development of digital and green economies.
• As we celebrate this collaborative partnership, let us reflect on the values and principles that
ASEAN and PIF hold dear.
• We are committed to maintaining regional centrality, fostering partnerships, and working
towards open, transparent, inclusive and resilient regions. Indeed, it recognises the primacy of
our respective regional mechanisms and encourages respect and adherence for regionally led,
developed and agreed priorities.
• The MoU is a steppingstone towards identifying how best to work together to achieve our
shared vision and aspirations.
• Excellencies, today's signing ceremony is a testament to our dedication to these principles and
goals. We recognize that our futures are intertwined, and that together, stand to better address
common challenges more effectively.
• In saying so, I must also emphasise the importance of listening and hearing each other out as
we embark on this new cooperation. In the Pacific, it is often said, that our silence is louder
than our words – so as with all partners, I look forward to supporting a partnership that listens,
learns and jointly progresses mutual priorities.
• Let us work together to build a brighter and more prosperous future for our regions and our
people.
• Your Excellencies, I thank you.
• Meitaki. --ENDS
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