PNG to chair PIF till September

Papua New Guinea has six months remaining to chair the Pacific Island Forum.

Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato in his ministerial statement to Parliament today said the government will do its utmost to ensure that PIF’s agenda for development is actively progressed.

“In line with our government’s commitment to regional co-operation, we have made sure that our assessed contributions to the PIF, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and other regional organization are all paid so that these organisations can work together effectively,” he said.

Pato added that as chair of the PIF, Prime Minister Peter O’Neill took every opportunity at the APEC Summit and the Climate conference to promote and advance the Climate Declaration and other PIF outcomes, both at the formal sessions and at other meetings in the margins with world leaders.

He said PNG’s contributions as the PIF chair to building a common approach in raising the concerns and aspirations shared by Pacific Islands states in global for a was both valued and rewarding.

However, he said amid a busy schedule meeting our international responsibilities at home and abroad, the government’s very firm commitment has always been to secure PNG’s national interest.

Dame Meg Taylor is currently the Secretary General of the PIF Secretariat.

The next meeting for the PIF leaders will be at the Federated States of Micronesia in September where they will elect the new chair.

Author: 
Freddy Mou