Update: 12:03PM THE 10th US-Pacific Islands Conference of Leaders got underway at East-West Center, Honolulu in Hawaii today.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, who is chairing the meeting, said that he expects Pacific Island leaders to come out of their regional discussions with a stronger collective perspective on key regional issues including climate change and security.

The meeting is attended by leaders and officials from Pacific Island nations and the United States and cover a number of regional integration and cooperation issues.

Fiji’s Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama is not attending the meeting. He is on a tour in Vanua Levu. 

The meeting ends on Friday, September 2.