Prime Minister Hon. Hu'akavameiliku joined Pacific Islands Leaders in historic back to back meetings with India and the United States on 22 May, in Papua New Guinea.

Aimed at fostering regional cooperation, the Third India-Pacific Islands Summit was co-hosted by India's Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and PNG Prime Minister, Hon. James Marape.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his adddress said that India stood by its friendly Pacific Island countries in times of difficulty.

“I am happy that India stood by its friendly Pacific Island countries in times of difficulty."

He said the impact of the COVID pandemic was most felt on the countries of the global south and challenges related to climate change, natural disasters, hunger, poverty and health were already there, and now new problems are arising.

“For me, you are large ocean countries and not small island states.”

Hon James Marape thanked the Indian PM for coming all the way and making their meeting possible.

"For us, we want this moment of the FIPIC platform for India to be the [strong] voice and advocate of the challenges we go through."

The FIPIC Summit is a multinational group developed in 2014 for cooperation between India and 14 Pacific Islands nations which include Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

U.S.-Pacifc Islands

At the same time, the U.S Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken is to co-host the United States-Pacific Island Dialogue with PM. Hon James Marape.

U.S. President Biden who was scheduled to attend cancelled his attendance last week, due to debt ceiling negotiations in Washington.

Meanwhile, this high level dialogue is the first of its kind to be held in-person in the Pacific and underscores the strong ties between the United States and the members of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Also attending is New Zealand Prime Minister, Hon. Chris Hipkins and Hon. Pat Conroy MP, Australia's Minister for International Development and the Pacific; and Minister for Defence Industry.

Pacific Islands Forum

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General, Henry Puna is an observer.

Forum stated that Pacific Leaders were also expected to travel to Seoul and Busan on a round of engagements culminating in a meeting with South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol, at the inaugural Korea Pacific Islands Summit in Seoul on 29 May.

"These high-level meetings are very important in taking forward the core strategic priorities of our 2050 vision for the Blue Pacific continent."