The Pacific Islands Forum now has the leading role to further consolidate its partnership with world super power, the US, after the recent meeting between Pacific island leaders and US president Joe Biden in Washington DC.
Pacific Islands Forum general secretary Henry Puna highlighted this during the Blue Pacific Ocean Event Reflections on the Year of the Ocean in Suva on Thursday.
The meeting in Washington DC was centred on the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
It also provided the opportunity to discuss key regional priorities including, strategic partnerships, climate resilience and clean energy, trade and economic recovery, maritime domain, IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing and law enforcement.
“It is mind-boggling to think that a few years ago we never imagined that we will be in a position that we find ourselves in today. To be recognised for a meeting with US President Joe Biden, the biggest power in the world, that is tremendous to me.
“The secretariat has the leading role of how to further advance the partnership ahead of us, not only here at the secretariat, but also our crop agencies.”
He said it was time they transform how they conducted business and that more work was needed for ocean advocacy.
“It is our responsibility to conserve and manage our ocean for the future of our generations.”
Mr Puna believed what brought them in Washington was the ocean.
“It is an integral and significant part of us. It is part of our culture, part of our identity, our livelihoods and of course our economy.”
