By Katalina Siasau

The Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku leaves Tonga this week to attend the annual United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York. In the United States, he will have a second meeting with US President Joe Biden, with Pacific Leaders. On his way to the US, the Prime Minister will attend the ‘Ikale Tahi's first match with Ireland, at the Rugby World Cup in Nantes, France, this Saturday, 16 September.

At a media briefing this afternoon, Hon. Hu'akavameiliku announced that he would be attending the UN General Assembly meeting this Sunday, with leaders from over 100 countries.

"This meeting in New York will be a good opportunity for Pacific leaders to show their political support for issues of climate change, and there is no better state to do that at,” he said.

He said the COP-28 was one of the most important topics they would be looking at during the UN meeting.

US President

Their second meeting will be with the US President, Joe Biden, following by other meetings, including the Pacific Leaders meeting, SPC Environment meeting, and a Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organization (PESO) meeting.

In these meetings, the PM said it will an opportunity to seek ways for co-operation for our new Dialysis Centre.

Government Projects

Hon. Hu'akavameiliku reported on the progress of some current government projects.

The Ministry of Infrastructure had added 18 houses to its Affordable Housing Project, for displaced families of 'Atata who had migrated to Tongatapu.

Over 400,000 trees were successfully planted so far, for the One Million tree-planting project. There are 100,000 trees to be planted by the Ministry of Education, by Government schools and church schools as well, 100,000 trees to be planted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and 100,000 that will asked of the Church Leaders.