Leaders of 11 Pacific Island countries and territories elected Federated States of Micronesia President David Panuelo as the Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders (PICL) new chairperson during a two-day virtual meeting held on June 2 and 3.

Dr. Mary Therese Perez Hattori [2] was also endorsed as interim director of the multilateral body’s Secretariat, the Pacific Islands Development Program [3] (PIDP), based at the East-West Center [4] (EWC) in Honolulu.

This is the 11^th time the summit has met since it was founded in 1980.

“We take your vote of confidence seriously and look to you for your continued guidance and support,” Panuelo told leaders.

“To me, this meeting of leaders also reinforces the true meaning of regionalism and the Pacific Way, keeping in mind that its membership is one of the largest and most genuinely inclusive in the Pacific region, including sovereign nations, as well as territories and the state of Hawai’i.”

“All are integral and active players in regional affairs, and our combined efforts are necessary to ensure that regional matters of interest and necessity, such as the existential threat of climate change, are sincerely and quickly addressed. Let's take actions today for our regional and global prosperity tomorrow.”

The Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawai'i, Marshall Islands, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, and the Solomon Islands took part in the meeting. Tonga did not take part.

The PICL voted to hold an in-person meeting in 2022, and again in 2025.

The PICL summit is a forum for Pacific Island leaders to address shared issues, learn from each other’s experiences, and develop common approaches to policy. The summit also provides opportunities for the leaders to dialogue with US officials and experts.