New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, will join more Pacific Island leaders arriving today for the start of 51st Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.

Also arriving today are Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, Federated States of Micronesia President David Panuelo, New Caledonia President of Congress Roch Yamytan, Tongan Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni and French Polynesia Vice President Jean Buisso.

This is one of the most significant meetings for regional leaders in history especially after the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic. More so, because Fiji is chairing the event and is the home of the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat.

Such is the magnitude that more than 160 international and regional journalists are here to cover the event.

Top of the agenda this week is the 2050 Blue Pacific Strategy which is expected to be endorsed at the end of the forum meeting. While Pacific leaders will push discussions on climate change, focus will also shift to China’s influence in the Pacific region.

Meanwhile, among leaders who arrived yesterday was Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare who recently signed a security deal with China.

He was welcomed by newly-appointed Fijian High Commissioner to New Zealand and Roving Ambassador Ratu Inoke Kubuabola.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will arrive tomorrow.

A traditional welcoming ceremony will be accorded to all leaders at the Grand Pacific Hotel tomorrow.

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