Forum Leaders Gathering In Suva To Meet Un Secretary-General

Pacific Islands Forum Leaders will for the first time since 2015 converge in Suva next week to meet the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

This historic visit will be the first-ever to the Pacific by Mr Guterres and is a milestone achievement cementing stronger diplomatic relations between the United Nations and the Pacific Re­gion, especially, in the lead up to the upcoming UNSG’s climate action sum­mit in September later this year.

The visit will unfold opportunities for the Pacific region to advance their leadership and raise their voice on is­sues of global importance, key focus being on climate change mitigation. It will also significantly deepen the co-operation in advancing the Pacific’s development interests and priorities.

As part of the planned 5 days official visit, Pacific Islands Forum Leaders will converge in Suva for the first time since 2015, to hold a Talanoa session on the climate change priorities, and also to seize the opportunity in having bilateral meetings relevant to national pri­orities.

The UNSG will also meet with the President, Major General (Ret’d) Jioji Kon­rote and senior govern­ment and non-govern­ment officials.

A bilateral meeting is also being scheduled between Mr Guteress and Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama on the third day of the visit.

Mr Bainimarama had personally invited Mr Guteress in Katowice, Poland, to visit Fiji. They were there for the COP24 meeting where Mr Baini­marama, as COP23 presi­dent, handed over the COP (Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Con­vention on Climate Change) baton to Poland, the new COP presidency.

Mr Guteress is understood to be impressed with Mr Bainimarama’s leadership in the global climate change battle. It is also understood that their leadership styles are similar. They are not afraid to speak out even in areas that may be politically sensi­tive.

As part of this official tour, Mr Guter­ess will also be visiting, New Zealand, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

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