On Wednesday, the foreign ministers of the Pacific Islands met for their annual summit. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu.
The annual ministerial meeting, chaired by the foreign minister of Tuvalu, Simon Kofe, saw discussions on the COVID-19 pandemic, the Blue Pacific response, and coordinated economic recovery. The forum’s Secretary-General, Henry Puna, also greeted the foreign ministers for the first time.
According to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs, the ministers acknowledged the challenging time for the Pacific family due to COVID-19 and the pressure it has placed on health infrastructure and the economy. They mainly focused on the hardships experienced by Fiji, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, and Australia, along with the frontline workers and medical staff working tirelessly to curb the spread of the virus. In this regard, Australia pledged to work with its Pacific neighbours to boost vaccination programmes by providing locally manufactured vaccines. In addition, Australia promised to extend “end-to-end support within national vaccine schemes” and contribute vaccines to the COVAX facility. The COVAX facility is a global collaboration to accelerate the production and equitable distribution of COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines.
Next, the ministers agreed to keep humanitarian corridors open and said they would restart passenger flights across the region at the earliest. They also released a “Joint Statement on Blue Pacific Leadership in Pre-Pandemic and Pre-Disaster Planning, reflecting the importance of preparing for future disasters.”
Furthermore, they discussed strategies to address climate change and future steps to advance climate action at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) scheduled from October 31 to November 12 in Glasgow. Australia has committed to providing $500 million in climate finance to the Blue Pacific and achieving the provisions laid out in the Kainaki Declaration. The representatives also discussed rising sea levels and maritime zones and endorsed a normative declaration that focused on ocean issues and upholding the integrity of UNCLOS. The ministers also discussed Japan’s plans to release treated Fukushima water into the ocean.
The ministers will next meet on the 50th anniversary of the Forum on August 6.
Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers Discuss COVID-19 and Economic Recovery
The Foreign Ministers of Pacific Islands engaged in discussions on climate change, COVID-19, economic recovery, and Blue Pacific response during an annual Pacific Island Forum ministerial meeting.
July 29, 2021
SOURCE: LOWY INSTITUTE