Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is looking forward to meet Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama next week.

As confirmed by Australian High Commissioner to Fiji John Feakes, newly-elected Mr Albanese will attend the 51st Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), chaired by Mr Bainimarama and related meetings in Suva.

At the meeting, which will take place from July 11 to 14, Mr Albanese is expected to meet Mr Bainimarama and fellow Pacific leaders.

It is understood that New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is also expected to attend.

Responding to queries from this newspaper, the NZ High Commission to Fiji said Ms Ardern’s trip was yet to be announced.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden.

In a statement, the forum outlined that the meeting would be an opportunity to strengthen relationships and reset goals and priorities for regionalism and collective action as a Forum family.

“The 51st Pacific Islands Forum is an opportunity for us to gather and celebrate 50-years of Pacific regionalism through the Pacific Islands Forum, and to reflect on and honour what it means to work together towards shared aspirations and objectives,” the Forum chair said.

The meetings in Suva will culminate with the launch of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which has been developed over three years and consulted widely across the region.

The Grand Pacific Hotel and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) in Suva, as well as other key landmarks, will host a range of meetings and events including public-facing festivities, talanoa events, and dialogue with civil society and private sector leaders.

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